Tanöwöde' Onödowá'ga Yoindzade (Seneca) | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| Enrolled members | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| New York | |
| About 700 | |
| Languages | |
| English,Seneca,Haudonasee | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, traditional religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Seneca,Oneida,Mohawk,Onondaga,Cayuga,Tuscarora |
TheTonawanda Seneca Nation (previously known as theTonawanda Band of Seneca Indians) (Seneca:Ta:nöwö:deʼ Onödowáʼga꞉ Yoindzadeʼ) is afederally recognized tribe in theState of New York. They have maintained the traditional form of government led bysachems (hereditarySeneca chiefs) selected byclan mothers. The Seneca are one of the original Five Nations (later six) of theHaudenosaunee orIroquois Confederacy. Their people speak theSeneca language, anIroquoian language.
The Tonawanda Seneca Nation is one of twofederally recognized Seneca tribes inWestern New York; the other is theSeneca Nation of Indians. The latter approved arepublicanconstitution in 1848, electing a council and executive officials to govern their lands of theAllegany,Cattaraugus andOil Springs reservations.
The Tonawanda Band opted out of participating in the republic (in part due to hostilities stemming from theBuffalo Creek sale), leading to the band's formation nine years later. In 1857, the Tonawanda Band signed a treaty with the United States and was recognized as a tribe independent of theSeneca Nation of New York. The new treaty with the US allowed the Tonawanda Band to buy back lands from theOgden Land Company, which had been sold out without their permission in theTreaties of Buffalo Creek. The Tonawanda retrieved the horns of authority and other artifacts from the other Seneca tribes and re-established a continuation of the traditional Seneca government that existed prior to 1848. They have amatrilineal kinship system; hereditary chiefs are selected through the maternal line byclan mothers. The Tonawanda Band govern a7,500-acre reservation near Akron, New York.[1]
In addition, some Seneca relocated toIndian Territory in the early 19th century; their descendants now form part of theSeneca-Cayuga Nation in present-dayOklahoma. TheCayuga people are another nation of theIroquois Confederacy. In the 21st century, the majority of Seneca people live inWestern New York. A small number live inCanada at theSix Nations of the Grand River First Nation withinOntario; they are also descendants of theKeepers of the Western Door.
On 15 January 1838, the United States government entered into theTreaty of Buffalo Creek, with nine Indian nations of New York, including the Seneca. The treaty was part of the United StatesIndian Removal program, by which they forced Native American peoples from eastern states to move west of theMississippi River to reservation lands in the less-desired and therefore less-settledKansas Territory (now the state ofKansas and parts ofColorado). This govern removal also displaced the indigenous peoples of those areas. The US wanted the Seneca and other New York tribes to move there to free up desirable lands for the European-American colonists’ to take over and settle. Under the treaty, the US acknowledged that theOgden Land Company was going to buy the four remaining Seneca reservations in New York, the proceeds funding the nation's removal toKansas Territory.[2]
The US modified the 1838 treaty with theTreaty with the Seneca of 1842. The new treaty reflected that the Ogden Land Company had purchased only two reservations, including theTonawanda Reservation. The Seneca retained theCattaraugus andAllegany reservations.[3] At this time, the Seneca of the Tonawanda Reservation protested they had not been consulted on either treaty, nor had their chiefs signed either treaty. They refused to leave their reservation.
In 1848, the Seneca Indians of the Cattaraugus and Allegany reservations held aconstitutional convention. They adopted a new form of constitution and government, including tribalpopular election of chiefs. Traditionally, hereditary chiefs were selected by clan mothers and ruled for life (unless one displeased his clan mother.)[4]
The Tonawanda Band did not want to make such changes, and thus seceded from the main Seneca nation in New York. They reorganized and re-established their traditional government with a council of chiefs representing each of their eightclans. In 1857, under the "Treaty with the Seneca, Tonawanda Band", the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians secured federal recognition as anindependent Indian nation.[5] With their share of proceeds from the earlier land sale, they bought back most of theTonawanda Reservation.
Under their traditional government, hereditary chiefs typically served for life. They governed by aconsensus of leaders of the clans, which formed the basis of the band. The Seneca and all the Iroquois peoples had amatrilinealkinship system, in which descent and property were passed through the maternal line. Children were considered born into the mother'sclan and took their status from her people.
"The Tonawanda Band consists of eight 'clans': theSnipe, theHeron, theHawk, theDeer, theWolf, theBeaver, theBear, and theTurtle. Each clan appoints a clan mother, who in turn appoints an individual to serve as Chief [from hereditary maternal lines]. The clan mother retains the power to remove a Chief and, in consultation with members of the clan, provides recommendations to the Chief on matters of tribal government. The clan mothers cannot disregard the views of the clan, nor can the Chiefs disregard the recommendations of the clan mothers."[4]