THE SENECA INDIANS

The Senecas are known as the Keeper of the Western Door of the Iroquois Confederacy and have been in this area since prehistoric times. The Seneca Nation, which once claimed all of the lands in Western New York from the Genesee to Niagara Rivers, and a portion of the state of Pennsylvania; now is comprised of three reservations. The Allegany Reservation, the largest, has 20,469 acres. It is located along both sides of the Allegany River, from the Pennsylvania border upriver to Vandalia NY. It is entirely in Cattaraugus County, including the city of Salamanca. (In fact, Salamanca is known as the only city in the world situated entirely on an Indian reservation.) The Cattaraugus Reservation, has 21,680 acres and is located in Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. These lands extend along the Cattaraugus Creek from Gowanda NY to Lake Erie. The Oil Springs Reservation is approximately one square mile in area and is located near Cuba NY in Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties. It includes access to Cuba Lake. Presently, no Senecas reside on this reservation, which was originally surveyed around the natural oil springs which the Seneca used for medicinal purposes to cure illness. There are, however, Seneca Nation and privately owned enterprises operating on the reservation. 
The Seneca Nation lost 10,000 acres of land to the Kinzua Dam project in the 1960's which forced over 700 Seneca Indians to abandon their homes and relocate. Replacement housing had to be found for the people whose homes were soon to be flooded. To lose their homes on the reservation was really to lose a part of their lives. The lands taken had great religious and social significance to the Seneca Indians. The dam displaced people, towns, railroads and highways. The acres flooded were undoubtedly the most productive for agriculture, hunting and fishing. The Senecas never chose to sell thier land but the government was bent on taking it. Removal and destruction of Seneca lands was a direct violation of the Treaty of 1794. Work soon began on two relocation sites for the displaced Senecas; one was at Jimersontown and the other at Steamburg. Jimersontown, near Salamanca NY was laid out in 145 one-acre plots. Steamburg, near the southern end of the reservation, had 160 one-acre plots. A family could be eligible for as many as three plots, so each homesite for a Seneca family could consist of up to three acres. We still live on those three acres given to my family but many in the area have sold off their acreage. In 1848, the Seneca Nation dissolved its chief system and has since then been governed by an elected tribal government, which includes a President, Clerk, Treasurer, Peacemakers, Surrogates and a 16 member tribal council. We have our own Seneca Nation Law Enforcement Agency, which provides security for both Reservations. The city of Salamanca includes many non Indian people who lease the land their homes and businesses are on, from the Seneca Nation. 

The Senecas are a member of the confederation of Iroquois tribes, formed in 1570, which consists of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senecas and Tuscaroras. The Seneca Indians were the western most member nation--also the most numerous and powerful. The heartlands of the confederation stretched from the Hudson River to the shores of Lake Erie. The general region is now known as Upstate New York. The Seneca Nation is a matrilineal society. Family relationships are determined by maternal descent. As long as the Mother is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation, her children are also enrolled members. Thus, our children are not enrolled Senecas, even though they are half Indian. All enrolled Senecas are members of one of eight clans: bear, deer, turtle, snipe, heron, beaver, wolf, and hawk. I am in the wolf clan. A child's clan is the same as his Mothers'. I have heard that long ago, a Seneca could not marry another Seneca from the same clan. There is so much inter-relation among the Senecas, that this is how they kept track of families.

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