Tonawanda Band of Seneca facts for kids

The Tonawanda Seneca Nation (also called Ta:nöwö:deʼ Onödowáʼga꞉ Yoindzadeʼ in their own language) is a Native American tribe. They are officially recognized by the United States government. This nation is located in New York State. Unlike some other tribes, they have kept their traditional way of governing. This means they are led by sachems, who are hereditary chiefs chosen by clan mothers.

The Seneca people are part of a larger group called the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy. This powerful group originally had five nations, and later six. The Tonawanda Seneca people speak the Seneca language, which is part of the Iroquoian language family.

The Tonawanda Seneca Nation is one of two Seneca tribes in Western New York that the U.S. government officially recognizes. The other is the Seneca Nation of Indians. In 1848, the Seneca Nation of Indians decided to change their government. They created a new system with elected leaders.

However, the Tonawanda Band chose not to join this new system. This was partly because of disagreements over land sales. In 1857, the Tonawanda Band signed a special agreement with the United States. This agreement recognized them as a separate tribe, independent from the other Seneca Nation. This new agreement also allowed the Tonawanda Band to buy back land that had been sold without their permission. They brought back their traditional symbols of authority and restarted their old government system.

The Tonawanda Seneca follow a matrilineal system. This means that family lines and important roles are passed down through the mother's side of the family. For example, hereditary chiefs are chosen by clan mothers. The Tonawanda Band manages a 7,500-acre reservation near Akron, New York.

Some Seneca people moved to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) in the early 1800s. Their descendants are now part of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation. The Cayuga people are another one of the six Iroquois nations. Today, most Seneca people live in Western New York. A small number also live in Canada at the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation in Ontario. They are also descendants of the "Keepers of the Western Door," a name for the Seneca people.

History of the Tonawanda Seneca

Jesse Cornplanter, a descendant of the famous Seneca chief Cornplanter, making a ceremonial mask at the Tonawanda Community House in 1940.

Land Treaties and Relocation Plans

On January 15, 1838, the United States government made an agreement called the Treaty of Buffalo Creek. This treaty involved nine Native American nations in New York, including the Seneca. This was part of a larger plan by the U.S. government called Indian Removal. The goal was to force Native American peoples from eastern states to move west. They were sent to reservation lands west of the Mississippi River, in what was then the Kansas Territory.

The U.S. government wanted these lands in New York for European-American settlers. Under the 1838 treaty, a company called the Ogden Land Company was supposed to buy the four remaining Seneca reservations in New York. The money from these sales was meant to pay for the nations to move to the Kansas Territory.

Tonawanda Seneca Refuse to Move

The 1838 treaty was later changed by the Treaty with the Seneca of 1842. This new treaty showed that the Ogden Land Company had only bought two reservations, including the Tonawanda Reservation. The Seneca were able to keep the Cattaraugus and Allegany reservations.

At this time, the Seneca people living on the Tonawanda Reservation protested. They said they had not been asked about either treaty. They also said their chiefs had not signed these agreements. Because of this, they refused to leave their homeland.

Forming Their Own Government

In 1848, the Seneca living on the Cattaraugus and Allegany reservations held a special meeting. They decided to adopt a new type of government. This new system included electing their chiefs by popular vote. Traditionally, hereditary chiefs were chosen by clan mothers and served for life. They could only be removed if they upset their clan mother.

The Tonawanda Band did not want to make these big changes. So, they decided to separate from the main Seneca nation in New York. They reorganized and brought back their traditional government. This government included a council of chiefs, with each chief representing one of their eight clans.

In 1857, a new agreement called the "Treaty with the Seneca, Tonawanda Band" was signed. This treaty officially recognized the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians as an independent Native American nation. With their share of the money from the earlier land sales, they were able to buy back most of the Tonawanda Reservation.

Traditional Government and Clans

Under their traditional government, hereditary chiefs usually served for their entire lives. They made decisions together, based on the agreement of the leaders from their clans. The Seneca, like all Iroquois peoples, have a matrilineal kinship system. This means that family lines and property are passed down through the mother's side. Children are considered part of their mother's clan and get their social standing from her family.

The Tonawanda Band has eight main clans:

• The Snipe Clan
• The Heron Clan
• The Hawk Clan
• The Deer Clan
• The Wolf Clan
• The Beaver Clan
• The Bear Clan
• The Turtle Clan

Each clan chooses a clan mother. The clan mother then selects a person to serve as Chief from the hereditary family lines. The clan mother has the power to remove a Chief if needed. She also works with her clan members to give advice to the Chief on how to govern the tribe. Clan mothers must listen to their clan members, and Chiefs must listen to the advice from their clan mothers.

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