Skaru:reʔ Kayeda:kreh, Nyučirhéʼę | |
|---|---|
 Location of Tuscarora Reservation in red, withinNiagara County, New York | |
| Total population | |
| 1,152 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( New York) | |
| Languages | |
| English,Tuscarora | |
| Religion | |
| Longhouse religion,Handsome Lake religion,[1]Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Haudenosaunee,Wyandot, otherIroquoian peoples |
TheTuscarora Reservation (Nyučirhéʼę[2] inTuscarora) is anIndian reservation of theTuscarora Nation (Skaru:reʔ Kayeda:kreh inTuscarora) is anIndian reservation inNiagara County,New York. The reservation population was 1,152 at the 2010 census.
The Tuscarora Nation, previously named the Tuscarora Nation of New York, is afederally recognized tribe ofTuscarora people. The tribe's headquarters is located inLewiston, New York, and their elected chief is Tom Jonathan.[3]
The Tuscarora is theSixth Nation in theHaudenosaunee Confederacy. TheirTuscarora language is anIroquoian language.
The Tuscarora tribe had migrated in ancient times from theNew York area to the South, where they were based in the Carolinas. After an extended conflict with European settlers and other Native Americans at the beginning of the 18th century and defeat in theTuscarora War, most of the tribe migrated North, beginning in 1722.
They first located in the territory of theOneida tribe in central New York. By 1765, they declared their tribe fully relocated and said that remnant Tuscarora who stayed in the South would no longer be considered part of the tribe. The Tuscarora and Oneida became allies of the American Continental cause during theAmerican Revolution, and of the United States during theWar of 1812. During both wars, they suffered attacks by British armed forces and their First Nations allies in centralNew York. TheTuscarora were given land from theSeneca tribe (territory which they had taken from theNeutral Nation in theBeaver Wars of the mid-17th century) in 1797. In 1803, the US government granted the Tuscarora a reservation in Niagara County.
University at Buffalo head football coachFrank Mount Pleasant was born on the reservation in 1884.
In 1960, through the efforts of the powerful appointed official,Robert Moses ofNew York City,New York State seized 550 acres (2.2 km2) of the Tuscarora reservation to form a reservoir for theRobert Moses Niagara Power Plant operated by theNew York Power Authority. New York needed 1,350 acres (5.5 km2) but only received 550 acres (2.2 km2) and had to pay $1,500 per acre per aUnited States Supreme Court Decision.[4] This led to a displacement of tribal members and a serious disruption to their economy. After a lengthy court case and appeals, in 2003, the Power Authority agreed to compensate the tribe financially and return some unused land.
On October 26, 2019, it was reported that a Niagara Power Project lost more than 600 acres when Robert Moses flooded the land to create a reservoir. From that time on the Reservation experienced and continues to experience awater shortage with the reservation now sitting on top of the highest point in Niagara.[5] " In 2012, 14 out of 15 wells tested positive for lead; 139 wells were tested for harmful bacteria and 69% tested positive for Total Coliforms, while 22% came back positive for E. coli."
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the Indian reservation has a total area of 9.3 mi2 (24.0 km2), all land. The reservation is located northeast ofNiagara Falls,New York. It is surrounded by the Town ofLewiston. The reservation is a composite holding derived from (1) land given to theSeneca tribe, (2) Land donated by theHolland Land Company, and (3) Trust territory held by the federal government.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 337 | — | |
| 1910 | 417 | 23.7% | |
| 1920 | 319 | −23.5% | |
| 1930 | 402 | 26.0% | |
| 1940 | 462 | 14.9% | |
| 1950 | 634 | 37.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,934 | 205.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,134 | −41.4% | |
| 1980 | 921 | −18.8% | |
| 1990 | 772 | −16.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,138 | 47.4% | |
| 2010 | 1,152 | 1.2% | |
| 2014 (est.) | 1,149 | [6] | −0.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] | |||
As of thecensus[8] of 2000, there were 1,138 people, 398 households, and 284 families residing in the Indian reservation. Thepopulation density was 122.8/mi2 (47.4/km2). There were 398 housing units at an average density of 42.9/mi2 (16.6/km2).
There were 398 households, out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% weremarried couples living together, 19.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.36.
In the Indian reservation the population was spread out, with 34.3% under the age of 18, 13.7% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 14.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.
The median income for a household in the Indian reservation was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $38,333. Males had a median income of $33,281 versus $25,074 for females. Theper capita income for the Indian reservation was $14,427. About 9.9% of families and 13.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
43°09′59″N78°57′26″W / 43.16639°N 78.95722°W /43.16639; -78.95722
Oneida · Onondaga · Poospatuck (Unkechaugi) · St. Regis Mohawk · Shinnecock · Tonawanda · Tuscarora Seneca Nation:Allegany · Buffalo Creek · Cattaraugus (Cattaraugus County · Chautauqua County · Erie County) · Oil Springs |
