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Seneca Nation of Indians
Related Information
Indian Nations:
For more information contact: Consultation and issues beyond reservation boundaries: Indian Nation capacity building and implementation of environmental programs: |
The Hiawatha Belt
The Hiawatha Belt symbolizes the five original nations from west to east in their respective territories across New York state - Seneca (People of the Great Hill), Cayuga (People of the Swamp), Onondaga (Keepers of the Fire), Oneida (People of the Standing Stone), and Mohawk (People of the Flint). |
ADDRESS
Allegany Indian Reservation
Genevieve Plummer Building
PO Box 231
Salamanca, New York 14779Phone: (716) 945-1790
Fax: (716) 532-9132Cattaraugus Indian Reservation
12837 Route 438
Irving, New York 14081Phone: (716) 532-4900
Fax: (716) 532-6272
Seneca Nation of Indians
CONTACTS
President
12837 Route 438
Irving, NY 14081Director
Environmental Protection Dept.
84 Iroquois Drive
Irving, New York 14081Phone: (716) 532-4900
e-mail address: silvia.patterson@sni.org
LAND BASE
The Seneca Nation of Indians (SNI) occupies lands set aside for it in the Canandaigua Treaty of 1794. SNI lands consist of three reservations:
1)Cattaraugus Indian Reservation - approx. 21,618 acres in Cattaraugus, Erie and Chautauqua Counties;
2)Allegany Indian Reservation - originally included 30,469 acres of land in Cattaraugus County, of which some 10,000 acres were inundated by the Kinzua Reservoir when the Army Corps of Engineers built the Kinzua Dam in 1964.
3)Oil Springs Reservation - one square mile of land, including access to Cuba Lake, on the border of Allegany and Cattaraugus Counties.
In addition, SNI has casinos located/proposed in Niagara Falls, Salamanca and Buffalo areas.
Congressional Villages: Within the external boundaries of the SNI Allegany Reservation are congressionally created villages (some of which are now incorporated into towns or have become cities, such as the City of Salamanca), which are Tribal lands that are, by and large, leased to non-Tribal members. The congressional villages are unique in that they were created by an act of Congress in the mid-1800's rather than being created under State law, as are other municipalities.
MEMBERSHIP/POPULATION
The Tribal membership is approximately 6,400. Approximately 3,000 members live on the reservations, with about 2,000 Tribal members living on the Cattaraugus Reservation and about 1,000 members living on the Allegany Reservation.
The Seneca Nation of Indians came into formal existence in 1848 when they abolished the “Chief” system and established a constitution with elected officials. The constitution provides for an Executive Branch, a Legislative Branch, and a Judicial Branch. The Executive Branch is comprised of the President, Treasurer, and Clerk, who are elected every two years and may not succeed themselves. The Legislative Branch (or Tribal Council) is comprised of 16 members; eight from the Cattaraugus Reservation, and eight from the Allegany Reservation, who are elected for 4-year staggered terms. The Judiciary Branch is comprised of separate Peacemaker, Appellate, and Surrogate Courts.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INFRASTRUCTURE
The SNI recognizes the need to: protect the environment; meet the needs of a growing population base and growth of reservation business areas; and respond to the increase in requests from outside companies to allow them to develop facilities on SNI land. The SNI has established an environmental management structure, identified and prioritized preliminary environmental concerns, and has begun to develop strategies to ensure compliance.
In recognition of its efforts and leadership role in environmental protection, the SNI Environmental Protection Department was awarded a 1996 Environmental Quality Award from EPA-Region 2.
SUMMARY OF EPA/SENECA NATION OF INDIANS INTERACTION
SNI has participated in national initiatives and conferences such as the National Tribal Conference on Environmental Management and the National Tribal Environmental Council.
The SNI participates in the Annual Indian Nation leaders meetings with Region 2 senior management and the Director of the American Indian Environmental Office, held in Syracuse, New York. Discussions included specific environmental issues of each of the Indian Nations, as well as environmental protection of the Indian Nation lands and development of the Indian Nations environmental capacity.
The Seneca Nation of Indians receives grants from the EPA for the development of its comprehensive environmental program. In addition, EPA provides technical assistance in response to requests from the Seneca Nation of Indians.
