Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ Background
It is painful to watch homes, businesses, schools, and ceremonial venues destroyed; elders abused; children frightened and traumatized. Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) people in their traditional territory, North in Six Nations, and West in Seneca Territory are affected by this conflict and violence. The ongoing crisis situation affecting the traditional Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ in Seneca County, NY (West of Onondaga Nation and the city of Syracuse), has a long and complicated history.
The Two Row Wampum Treaty, made between the Dutch and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, stipulated that European People and the People of Turtle Island would each conduct their own internal affairs and not interfere with each other’s governance and decision-making process. This treaty (and all others) has not been upheld by the US.
Native communities were confined in reservations and the 1924 Citizenship Act attempted to solidify Native Peoples’ status as dependents. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) was established in 1824 by the US Secretary of War, and was originally housed within the War Department. Tasked with mediating the relationship between the US government and Native Nations, the BIA has a sordid history. The agency has long pursued policies and practices that harm Indigenous peoples and encroach on tribal sovereignty; even the BIA’s own website acknowledges as much. Yet, per the US constitution, treaties remain the “supreme Law of the Land,” and provide the foundation of Indigenous-US federal interactions. The 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua, for instance, promises Haudenosaunee Nations the “free use and enjoyment” of their recognized territories.
Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ land was illegally purchased from individual Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ citizens who did not have the requisite authority to sell land after the American Revolutionary War; not to mention New York State did not have the authority under US law to purchase the land. The Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ began to return and obtain land approximately 20 years ago, after 200 years of separation from their traditional territory.
According to Haudenosaunee governance protocols and practices outlined in the Great Law of Peace, Chiefs hold authority bestowed by Clan Mothers. Clan Mothers are also responsible for the land and all land is communally held. There are no individual deeds. Clan Mothers are selected by the members of each Clan.
The crisis in Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ traditional territory is due to the BIA’s extremely questionable recognition of a federal representative who is not recognized by the traditional leadership of Chiefs and Clan Mothers. The leadership dispute began when Clint Halftown served as the “eyes and ears” of Chief Vernon Isaac, until Isaac’s death in 2003. Up to that time, Halftown attended meetings and reported back to Isaac. After Isaac passed, the Council of Chiefs appointed Halftown only as the temporary federal representative, meaning he could receive funds.
A year later, Clan Mothers installed new chiefs to replace Halftown. However, Halftown refused to cooperate and did not relinquish his position. The Council of Chiefs and Clan Mothers have repeatedly and publicly rejected Halftown’s claim to leadership. Franklin Keel, then Eastern Regional Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, endorsed a Cayuga Nation Council resolution to remove Clint Halftown as leader in 2011.
Unfortunately, Halftown was recognized by the new BIA Eastern Regional Director Bruce Maytubby in December 2016 after a corrupt and collusive year, in which Maytubby met secretly and repeatedly with Halftown. However, he acknowledged that Clan Mothers bear responsibility for appointing leaders, according to Haudenosaunee tradition.
The Council of Chiefs have used all avenues of legal recourse that are available to them. There have been multiple applications to BIA, Interior Board of Indian Appeals, and the Assistant Secretary from 2005 to 2017. A 2017 federal court action challenged Maytubby’s recognition of Clint Halftown as the “federal representative” of the Nation. It was dismissed because the court gave deference to the BIA’s supposed “expertise”.
In 2018, after tensions began to escalate, the Halftown Council formed the Cayuga Nation Police to help enforce Halftown’s decisions; CNP has been responsible for injuries to citizens and harassment of families. Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney wrote a letter in November 2019 stating that the US Department of Interior (and BIA) considers the Halftown Council to be the leadership of Cayuga Nation for all purposes.
With this cover from the federal bureaucrats who created their regime, in February 2020 the Halftown Council brought in bulldozers to destroy a daycare center, store, schoolhouse, and other buildings. The traditional Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ lost resources and were forced to find new locations to continue teaching their traditions and language. Later that year, Gakwiyo Provisions, which provided food for the community, was also demolished. Since then, the Halftown Council continues attempts to evict traditional citizens from homes using an unaccountable “tribal” court.
In early August 2022, the Halftown Council again ordered the destruction of an occupied vintage farmhouse and a barn used for ceremonies, injuring an elder and dumping rematriated white corn on the ground. Allies have again come together as they did in 2020 to support the traditional community with mutual aid. They have also volunteered to camp outside homes to prevent further destruction and provide a sense of safety for the traditional citizens.
The Council of Chiefs and Clan Mothers have drawn support from 4 municipalities- Enfield, Dryden, Ithaca, Interlaken; as well as from Seneca County, Tompkins County, the Cornell Student Assembly, and Anna Kelles (State Assemblyperson). These resolutions (pushed for by US citizens) condemn the actions of Halftown, express concern for the safety and well-being of traditional citizens, and urge the BIA to cease recognizing Halftown and acknowledge the Council of Chiefs and Clan Mothers.
Legal counsel has filed a petition with the Department of Interior to review the Sweeney letter and a supplement will be filed shortly to urge roll-back of the Sweeney letter. The BIA has thus far not been responsive to requests.
There is no moral justification for the Halftown Council’s egregious actions towards their own relatives. These acts of terror against his own citizens provide categorical proof that Halftown has completely abandoned the governing principles of compassion and justice deeply embedded in the Great Law of Peace. We hope that the support of allied actions of US citizens and legal representation of the Council of Chiefs will force the BIA to recognize and honor their obligations to the traditional Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ community in Seneca County and stop Halftown’s consolidation of power.
This Article was prepared in consultation with Joe Heath, Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ legal council, and Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ leaders.
NOON acknowledges that we are on the territory of the Onondaga Nation, council fire of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
We are thankful for their stewardship of our environment.
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EVENTS:
Restore Our Sacred Lake 5k Run/Walk, Saturday, September 17, 2022, Race begins at Onondaga Lake Wegman’s Park. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. Race begins at 8:00 a.m. Cost: Free . Speakers/Singers/Children’s Art Exhibit. Bring artwork to display from children up to age 18 to show the importance of these efforts. Please stay for the Wooden Stick Festival that immediately follows.
Deyhontsigwa’ehs: The Creator’s Game, Lacrosse Weekend, Saturday September 17-Sunday September 18
Ganondagan’s Annual Living History Event, Saturday, September 24, 2022; 10 AM- 4 PM. This is a popular day for visitors to immerse themselves in all various aspects of the living culture of the Hodinöhsö:ni’ people, history, Culture and Traditions features 18th century reenactors, demonstrations of cordage making and basket making, cooking cornbread wheels, storytelling, Iroquois Social Dancing, hands on activities such as making your own cornhusk doll, games, and more! Admission is Donation Based – Suggested Donation $5 per person/$10 per family, Ganondagan NYS Historical Site, 7000 County Road 41, Victor, NY
Indigenous Peoples Day – October 9-10, 2022, Randel’s Island, NYC. Redhawk Indigenous Arts Council. FREE 2 day event where Indigenous leaders, Elders, Medicine people, cultural performers and supporters from across the globe will celebrate the rich history, art and culture of Indigenous People. First Peoples from the Americas will once again convene to share their traditions, through song, dance, art, and prayer, while inviting all to rethink what was Columbus Day.
Indigenous Peoples Day, Syracuse, NY. – October 10, 2022. Cultural celebration and films. Watch for emails with further details.
Iroquois Indian Museum Events, July through October.
ours – Immersive, Indigenous Cultural Tours Hosted by Experts
Virtual Programming- Ten Minute Teachings – Ganondagan
Virtual Tours – Iroquois Indian Museum
Virtual Tours and Educational videos – Seneca Iroquois National Museum
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MONTHLY:
NOON Steering Committee Open Meeting, Next meeting August 16th, 7-8:30 PM, virtual. Since new people often have a lot of questions and you will need contact info for the virtual meeting, we recommend contacting Carol Baum , Syracuse Peace Council Staff, or Sue Eiholzer, NOON Volunteer, before the meeting.
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FYI:
To aid you in focusing, articles are arranged by topic and coded for length (S – short, M – Medium, L – Long) with a designation for Video and/or Audio.
History
American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program – L
Boarding Schools
Red Cloud Indian School will dig for graves – M
Government
New York attorney general opposes changes to law protecting Native American families – Sttorney general ses changes to law protecting Native American families
Sports
Haudenosaunee lacrosse squad wins bronze medal at world tournament – S
Onondaga Nation Newsletter
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NOON RESOURCES:
Because the Syracuse Peace Council office is closed during the pandemic, contact carol@peacecouncil.net so we can arrange to get them to you.
The Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code film is premised on Pagans in the Promised Land: Decoding the Doctrine of Christian Discovery, a book based on two decades of research by Shawnee, Lenape scholar Steven T. Newcomb. Available to borrow. Contact Carol Baum via email or phone 315-472-5478
Standing on Sacred Ground Videos. Each of the 4 episodes is 60 min. Pilgrims and Tourists, Profit and Loss, Fire and Ice and Islands of Sanctuary. If you have a group of friends or know an organization that would like to view any of these films, please contact Carol Baum via email or phone 315-472-5478.
In addition NOON has organized dozens of educational programs over the past 20 years which are available on line at SPC’s You Tube Channel. Fifteen years ago we coordinated the historic series Onondaga Land Rights and Our Common Future. Check out the videos here.
WITNESS TO INJUSTICE: UNRAVELING HISTORIC NATIVE & U.S. RELATIONS. This inter-active group exercise is a 2 hour teaching tool that uses participatory education to raise awareness of the history of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in the part of the world now known as the United States. Through the use of meaningful quotes, and blankets that represent part of Turtle Island (the Western Hemisphere), we explore this shared history that most people rarely learn in traditional settings. We engage in a conversation about the European colonization of Turtle Island in order to deepen our understanding of the denial of Indigenous peoples’ nationhood throughout U.S. History. NOON is offering this exercise to groups, organizations, schools and churches. A good will offering to support NOON’s work is appreciated. If you would like additional information or to schedule a time for a presentation, contact Cindy Squillace
Save the Date:
Ganondagan NYS Historical Site, 7000 County Road 41, Victor, NY
11/11- Canandaigua Treaty Commemoration. The annual commemoration serves to “polish the chain of peace and friendship” between the Hodinöhsö:ni’ (Six Nations Confederacy) and the United States. The treaty was signed in 1794 by Colonel Timothy Pickering—official agent of President George Washington—and sachems from the Six Nations Grand Council, and signified peace between the two and recognized the sovereignty of the other as distinct nations to govern and set their own laws. More details to come.
Hodinöhsö:ni’ Art Show, Ganondagan’s 6th juried art show will open to public on Saturday, November 19th, the last day to view the show will be on Saturday, November 26th. Applications and details to come!
Native American Winter Arts Festival, Saturday, December 3rd, experience Haudenosaunee culture while shopping for that one-of-a-kind holiday gift. More details to come!
Past NOON newsletters can be accessed at E-Newsletters.
