SALAMANCA, N.Y. – The Council of the Seneca Nation of Indians
has given Gov. Eliot Spitzer one week to answer to the nation’s
claims that the 30-year old Southern Tier Expressway Agreement has
never been fulfilled.
The council voted Thursday night to “give notice to New York
State that it remains in default” of that agreement, according to a
release issued by the council Friday.
Tribal council members gathered Friday morning in the parking
lot of the Red Garter Restaurant for a press conference on the
matter. Also attending the press conference were at least 50
Senecas of various ages, non-Senecas, local media and television
crews from Buffalo news stations Channel 2, Channel 4 and Channel
7.
The conference got underway at about 10:30 a.m. with an opening
prayer in the Senecas’ native language. Some attendees were dressed
in suits, while some were dressed in authentic Seneca garb.
Council member J.C. Seneca, who led the conference, started off
by thanking Tom and Jane Fenton, owners of the Red Garter.
Seneca went on to discuss the council’s decision on Thursday and
the reasons behind it.
“It has been 30 years since this highway came to our territory,”
Seneca said, referring to Interstate 86, formerly Route 17. “It has
brought disruption to the water that flows through here, the
plants, trees, animals and Seneca families.
“We were promised compensation for this disruption, but we have
never been compensated,” he went on to say, calling for a moment of
silence for the Senecas who have “passed away waiting for
justice.”
The Seneca Nation and the state of New York entered into an
agreement in July of 1976, according to the release, in which the
Senecas turned over hundreds of acres of land in the form of a
permanent easement on which the state could build the highway.
The Senecas claim that not only were they promised monetary
compensation and a parcel of land equal in size to the one they
turned over, but have said they were also promised road
maintenance, exemption from hunting, trapping and fishing laws,
health care/medical services, minibus transportation and exemption
from motor vehicle licensing fees among other things.
The Senecas claim New York fell short of most of those
promises.
They also pointed out that in 1999, when Route 17 became I-86,
the Nation was not consulted.
So, the council voted to declare the agreement in default and
their president, Maurice John, drafted a letter to be sent to
Spitzer giving the state seven days to contact him and “indicate
the state’s willingness to negotiate.”
Council members also intimated they would not approve any
further construction, including U.S. Route 219 expansion, until the
matter is resolved.
“We don’t need (Route) 219,” Council member Richard Nephew said.
“Other people do.”
Council members indicated that if New York is unwilling to
negotiate on the matter, they will consider their 1976 agreement
withdrawn.
“This council is very aggressive,” Seneca said. “We will not
back down. We will not bend. Our nation regulates our own, and
that’s the way it’s going to be.”
