Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was in Salamanca today present a check for $34.5 million as part of the agreement that resolved a multi-year dispute between the state and the Seneca Nation of Indians over casinos. Seneca President Barry Snyder Sr. said the nation appreciates that Cuomo understands the importance of Seneca Gaming to the region, and continued to work on a compromise. As part of the agreement reached in June, the state recognized and reconfirmed the compact that gives the Seneca Nation exclusive rights to operate casinos in Western New York, while the nation agreed to resume payments, and make up for payments, that they stopped when then-Governor David Paterson allowed non-Indian gaming in the region. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder Sr. says Governor Andrew Cuomo is a bully. Snyder released a statement today saying Cuomo is engaging in playground bully tactics regarding the stalemate over revenue sharing from the nation’s casinos. After signing an agreement with the Oneida Indian Nation on Thursday, Cuomo said the state could force the Senecas to stop operating their casinos after their compact expires in 2016. At issue is the more than $500 million in payments the Senecas have withheld from the state because they say New York violated a contract by allowing gambling in the nation’s exclusive territory. Cuomo wants to expand gambling in New York and said last week that unless the Seneca, Oneida and Mohawk nations came to agreements with the state, new casinos could possibly be built in their territory. You can read Snyder's news release here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Barry Snyder Sr. has won a fifth term as president of the Seneca Nation of Indians. Snyder defeated four other candidates seeking the two-year term. Rodney Pierce won the treasurer's post, defeating incumbent president Robert Odawi Porter for that position. Snyder said in a news release, "Nya-Weh. I want to thank the Seneca people for once again believing that leadership of our Nation is by the people. The past two years have broken the spirit and confidence that our people have in Seneca political leadership. We will not look back but we will move forward with an open and transparent government that will enable us to continue to protect and grow our economic sovereignty and our traditional values and culture." Snyder received 929 votes. 2,636 votes were cast at polling places on both the Cattaraugus and Allegany territories. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

New York is threatening to shut down the Seneca Nation’s casinos because the tribe is withholding payments to the state, but Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder Sr. says in a news release that the state violated the gaming compact first. The state says the Seneca Nation owes the state more than $200 million under an agreement requiring them to share slot revenues with New York. Last month, Seneca leaders voted withhold payments, saying the state violated the compact by allowing gaming in nearby racetracks. Snyder adds that the compact also says the state can not terminate the compact unless an arbitration panel determines that there has been a breach.

CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, Seneca Nation -- New York voters strongly support Indian treaties which prevent taxation of Native American-sold goods, according to a new Zogby International poll conducted on behalf of the Seneca Nation of Indians. The poll, conducted the week of August 23, 2010, found 68.4 percent of those surveyed think state and federal governments should honor Indian treaties – specifically the Treaty of 1842 – which bars state taxation of Seneca businesses. "Once again the people of New York State have voiced their support of our rights as a sovereign nation. This is especially heart-warming for all Haudenosaunee Nations as the state is poised to enforce its illegal sales tax scheme on September 1," said Seneca Nation of Indians President Barry E. Snyder Sr. The statewide Zogby telephone survey found overwhelming support for honoring Indian treaty rights regardless of geographic regions, political affiliation, gender, race, age or religion. "New York State...

The FBI is now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for an act of vandalism on the CSX railroad tracks which run through the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation. Two railroad ties were placed across the tracks sometime before 8:45 Monday morning, about 200 yards from a bridge spanning Cattaraugus Creek. The Amtrak passenger train hit the ties, which flew up and damage its air lines. The train stayed on the tracks and no one was hurt. Authorities believe the incident may be linked to an ongoing dispute over the sale of mail order cigarettes because signs reading “No Mail – No Rail” were placed near the scene. The signs have since been removed by order of Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder, who issued a statement that said the Senecas would never condone putting innocent workers and passengers in danger as a result of differences of opinion over the PACT Act.

Seneca Nation of Indians President Barry E. Snyder, Sr., today expressed anger and disappointment over recent incident where railroad ties were purposely placed on CSX railroad tracks near the Cattaraugus Creek Railroad Bridge, resulting in damage to an Amtrak passenger train. “This was an extremely irresponsible and dangerous act that could have resulted in harm to Amtrak passengers and crew members, and other railroad personnel who utilize this rail corridor,” President Snyder said in a news release. “While the Seneca Nation is at odds with the federal government over the PACT Act and the State of New York regarding planned collection of sales tax on cigarettes, we would never condone putting innocent railroad workers and passengers in danger as a result of those differences of opinion.” On July 5, an Amtrak train sustained damage to its air lines when it struck railroad ties lying across the tracks approximately 200 yards east of the Cattaraugus Creek Bridge. There were no injuries ...

LEWISTON, N.Y. – Western New York has a new destination that the golfing public is sure to notice. Representatives from the Seneca Nation of Indians, Seneca Gaming Corporation and the Town of Lewiston joined together this morning to celebrate the ceremonial opening of Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course, a $25 million public golf course that will officially open for play on July 2. The challenging par-72 layout was designed by renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. “Today is the dawning of a new era in golf in Western New York and the start of an exciting new venture for Seneca Gaming Corporation,” said Kevin W. Seneca, Chairman, Seneca Gaming Corporation. “Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course will certainly add to the world-class environment that visitors to our Four Diamond-rated Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel resort currently enjoy and provide travelers another reason to visit Lewiston, the Greater Niagara Region and Western New York.” Located on 257 acres of land, Senec...

CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, N.Y.(news release) -- Seneca Nation of Indians President Barry E. Snyder Sr. today urged Governor Paterson to keep his promise to the Nation regarding rational dialogue on any and all proposals on taxing of Native American tobacco products. "In light of today's report, which calls for collection of sales tax on our products, we want to remind the governor of his pledge for an ongoing, rational dialogue on this critical issue," President Snyder said. "This, and prior governors, have shown consistency in honoring our sovereign treaty rights despite continued outside pressures to dishonor our unique status. We commend that and have every hope there is no change in that stance." The NYS State Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations today issued a report titled "Executive Refusal: Why the State Has Failed to Collect Cigarette Taxes on Native American Reservations." The report is critical of Governor Paterson for...

Seneca Nation President Barry E. Snyder Sr. called today's signing of the PACT (Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking) Act a "deliberate betrayal" of all Native Americans. "The President of the United States invited Native American leaders to Washington D.C. in November and looked us in the eye as a sign of good faith in his pledge to protect federal treaties," Snyder said. "Now four months later he has betrayed that promise." "In 1779, President George Washington was referred to as 'Hanodagonyas,' an Iroquois term meaning 'town destroyer,' for his attempt to quell Native American uprisings. I think that term should be dusted off and given to Barack Obama for the economic destruction that Pact Act will cause," Snyder said. "This is certainly not the first time a U.S. president has failed to honor federal treaty rights, but it is particularly hurtful when this country's first minority president turns his back on another ...

The Seneca Nation is calling on President Obama to veto the PACT Act when it reaches his desk. Seneca President Barry Snyder Sr. says the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act is a blatant attack on Native American treaty rights. If signed into law the PACT Act will bar Native American tobacco businesses from using the U.S. Postal Service for shipment of their products. Snyder says this would result in the loss of about 1,000 jobs in Western New York. Snyder says this is a sucker punch to federal treaty rights and a direct assault on the Seneca's economy and people. You can read the entire news release here .

Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder Sr. is blasting lawmakers who voted in favor of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act. He says if President Obama signs it, and it becomes law, more than 1,000 jobs would be lost in Western New York. The bill bans the US Postal Service from mailing tobacco products. Snyder says the PACT Act is being portrayed as a tool to fight cigarette smuggling, but it's really about big tobacco protecting its market share. He says this is more than just a Seneca issue, it's an economic issue for all of Western New York.

Seneca Nation Executives, Councilors and community members gathered today to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony commemorating the opening of a brand new $30 million administration building on the Allegany territory. The construction project, which began in October 2008, is a three-story 90,000 square-foot structure that was designed by a Native American owned firm, Two Row Architects from Six Nations, Ontario and Buffalo-based firm Kideney Architects. The facility will house the Nation’s governmental offices and meeting rooms and features a Grand Hall and state of the art high tech Council Chambers. Leaders of the Seneca Nation remarked upon the significance of the new building. “In many ways, today is a day of new beginnings for the Seneca Nation,” said President Barry Snyder. “With the opening of this beautiful new administrative complex, we take another step forward in the history of the Seneca Nation. This building is more than just a new home for our government, or a place where impor...

Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder has responded to latest tax proposal by New York State. In a news release, Snyder says "The notice of proposed tax certification regulations released yesterday by the State Tax Department reflects another illegal attempt by the State to collect taxes on our commerce. Instead of trying to destroy our treaty-protected economy, the State should be focused on developing opportunities with us since the Nation is a proven contributor to Western New York's regional growth. As we have before, the Seneca Nation will vigorously oppose all state efforts to interfere with our treaty rights and our economy. "State officials should realize by now that we are not a scapegoat for Albany's budget problems. It is no secret that Albany is struggling with a budget deficit of historic proportion. But that is a problem that comes from decades of overspending and poor resource mismanagement. It is a crisis that the State created for itself. "The Se...

New York State is going to try again to collect taxes on cigarettes sold by Indian retailers to non-Indian customers. New York Governor David Paterson has ordered the state tax department to put regulations in place to enforce a 2008 law intended to stop wholesalers from selling unstamped cigarettes to tribes, although he says he would prefer to settle the dispute through negotiations with Indian leaders. He says it's a matter of being fair to non-Indian retailers who, if a proposal in his new budget is approved, would have to add another dollar a pack onto the price of cigarettes. That would raise the tax to $3.75 a pack. Paterson says the tax on on cigarettes sold by Indians to non-Indians would also bring in millions of dollars for the state. Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder Sr. said in a statement, "We will not be the State’s tax collectors and we will defend our freedom regardless of the cost."

Seneca Gaming Corporation is looking at another shakeup. The board has relieved Jeffrey Gill of his duties as chairman and elected former Seneca Nation treasurer Kevin Seneca. The board didn't give a reason for the vote at Monday's meeting. Gill had served only four months after Seneca President Barry Snyder Sr. forced Cochise Redeye out. He served as chairman for only six months. Redeye and Gill were both part of a faction of board members who ousted Snyder as gaming board chairman after he refused to cooperate with an audit looking at the Hickory Stick golf course purchase. Gill was in federal court Friday when disbarred attorney Timothy Toohey admitted that he had embezzled $202,000 in the Hickory Stick land deal. So far, Toohey is the only one charged in connection with the land deal. Federal officials say as much as $900,000 may have been taken from the Senecas.

President Barack Obama said today that the federal government was guilty of mistreating Native Americans in the past, and promised to forge a new relationship between the federal government and tribal leaders. "You deserve to have a voice," Obama told representatives of 386 tribes at a White House Tribal Nations Conference. "You will not be forgotten as long as I'm in this White House." Obama has directed federal agencies to submit recommendations within 90 days on how to improve tribal participation in government policy decisions. Leaders of all 564 federally recognized tribes were invited to the daylong meeting. Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder Sr. is attending the conference.

Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder Sr. was among the dignitaries on hand to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca today. During the ceremonies, Seneca Gaming Corporation Chairman Cochise Redeye said one of the new initiatives this year will be an employee bonus policy. He said the reason for instating the bonus policy is a renewed commitment to improve employee culture.

The Seneca Nation of Indians Legislative Council has voted to make significant changes in the charters of the Seneca Gaming Corporation. The revisions make board duties and responsibilities more clear, change the qualifications needed to become board member and make board members more accountable to the Seneca Nation. Among the changes are that at least one board member have either a graduate law, business or accounting degree or 10 years of experience in management of a publicly held casino company. Seneca President Barry Snyder Sr. commended the council for making the adjustments.

A close friend of Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder Sr. is leaving his position as president and CEO of the Seneca Gaming Corporation. Brian Hansberry had been in charge of the tribe’s casinos. Hansberry’s departure comes less than six weeks after Snyder was voted off the board of directors, following an audit that raised questions about the corporation's expenses. Hansberry had been with Seneca Gaming since October of 2002. Catherine Walker, the corporation’s chief operating officer, is acting as interim president and CEO.