Senecas rally on Cattaraugus Reservation
CATTARAUGUS INDIAN RESERVATION -- About 100 people gathered at a public rally behind Big Indian Smoke Shop this morning in which speakers voiced concern about Native Americans' ongoing struggle for sovereignty.
With the roar of honking tractor-trailers passing by on the state Thruway behind them, leaders of the Seneca Nation along with representatives of other Indian nations and members of the community addressed a variety of ongoing conflicts with the state government.
"We're not asking for crazy things. We're asking for human rights," said Ross John, a member of the Beaver Clan of the Seneca Nation who lives on the Cattaraugus territory.
2:18 p.m.: Here's Seneca businessman Ross John's full comments (12:58):
2:13 p.m.: Tribal Councillor Travis Jimerson, during his remarks, noted the honking vehicles passing by the rally.
"Every time you see one of those cars go by, that's two bucks to us," Jimerson said.
A 2.7-mile portion of the Thruway, from Exit 57A at Eden-Angola to Exit 58 at Silver Creek, is on Seneca territory.
Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer in 2007 put $200 million in his budget from revenue he was going to collect in taxes from non-Indians who buy cigarettes and gasoline on Seneca territories. After that, the Seneca Nation sent the state a $2.6 million bill for cars that used the Thruway that crossed Seneca land over a two-month period.
Jimerson also said he wanted to remind the state and state leaders that New York "was built around us."
"They never beat us. They never removed us," Jimerson continued. "We're a nation that's never been beat. Many have tried, and they failed."
Listen to Jimerson's full address (4:41) here:
1:55 p.m.: Richard Nephew, a member of the Seneca Nation Tribal Council, said he believes the media rarely points out what the state owes the Seneca Nation, instead focusing on what the nation owes the state.
Nephew said the state made promises in 1976 surrounding the construction of Route 17, which crosses the Allegany territory. "We're still waiting for those promises to be kept," he said.
Nephew also called the state Thruway that runs through the Cattaraugus territory "an illegal business conducted by New York state on our territories."
Listen to all of Nephew's comments here (4:01):
1:19 p.m.: This morning's rally took the place of a regular meeting of the Seneca Free Trade Association, said Chairman Richard Jemison.
It was held to "give folks a chance to get out and express themselves, express the frustration that we're all feeling over what's being done to us," Jemison said.
1:09 p.m.: There were nine invited speakers at this morning's 90-minute rally at Big Indian. After those speakers, which included business and elected leaders and other community members, the stage was opened up to members of the public to speak.
The event was organized by the Seneca Free Trade Association.
Richard Jemison, the organization's chairman, welcomed those gathered "to the people's rally against everything that has been done against us by New York state, by the United States government.
Jemison continued: "Right now, we're under attack from all sides."
Speakers touched on a variety of topics, from the use of the Thruway and other roads that cut through reservations, casinos and the sharing of casino revenue, outside elected leaders' statements about the tax issue and media coverage.
12:15 p.m.: This was one of two rallies scheduled this morning, with the other at the nearby Native Pride shop.
The rallies came a day after a federal judge temporarily blocked a state effort to collect taxes on cigarettes sold on Indian land to non-natives.
Check back throughout the day for more, including audio and video, from the rally at Big Indian Smoke Shop.
9:59 a.m.: Members of the Seneca Nation of Indians are rallying this morning on the Cattaraugus Reservation. The News' Aaron Besecker is on the reservation and posting updates on his Twitter account. He sent along photos of some signs at this morning's rallies, featuring Gov. David A. Paterson, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and President Obama:
