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Peaceful Protests

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Thursday, 02 September 2010

Peaceful Protests Senecas Stage Rallies In Irving By Ashley Zengerski September 2, 2010   IRVING - Tensions are lower around the area's Native American reservations today than they were Tuesday. That doesn't mean members of the Seneca Nation of Indians are any less frustrated with New York state even as the nation and its fellow tribes statewide received another reprieve from the judicial system. A state appellate court judge in Western New York on Wednesday restored an order stopping the collections, Gov. David Paterson's office said. An earlier order had been lifted Monday by a state judge, a decision appealed by the Seneca and Cayuga nations. Those tribes won a separate federal court order Tuesday temporarily barring collections against them. But the state had said it would start imposing the $4.35 per pack levy on other reservation retailers starting Wednesday. Before Wednesday's appellate ruling was announced, the Senecas hosted a pair of rallies outside the Big Indian Smokeshop and Native Pride on its Cattaraugus Reservation in Irving. Three U.S. Marshals stood idly listening to the speeches of many Seneca Nation officials, ready for action should a speaker collapse from the sole threat - heat exhaustion. ''We don't want to be violent, but we want our views to be known,'' said John Kane, a radio show host and reservation member, expressing a peaceful sentiment reiterated throughout the course of the morning. The attendance of the marshals proved unnecessary, though at least two members of the crowd wondered why they were sent to the reservation in the first place. ''Outside forces like the media did a good job of making this seem like it was going to be something terrible,'' said Nikki Seneca, a member of the reservation. ''Past events have been sensationalized by the media,'' echoed Susanne Sanfyrd, member of the Turtle Clan, in reference to the media advisories warning citizens to refrain from traveling on Interstate 90 or visiting any of the businesses located on the Cattaraugus or Salamanca reservations for their own safety. Instead, the rally provided an open forum for people to share opinions and unite under a common cause. Although the Seneca Nation is employing diplomacy in an attempt to peacefully resolve the issues concerning taxes and government interference in a sovereign nation, speakers said the tribe will not back down from fighting for its rights. ''We are a nation that has never been beat, and we never will be,'' said Travis Jimerson, Cattaraugus travel councillor. Support for the reservations could be found in all directions Wednesday. Feliks Zarczynski, a Silver Creek resident, spoke of his positive experience with the Seneca people over the past 25 years even as horns honked in support of the Senecas from passing vehicles on the Thruway. Neville Spring from the Tonawanda reservation spoke of the need to unite, since all Native Americans are being targeted under the pending legislation. ''It's all about balancing the budget. The brightest people in the state are saying they can't do it, so they are deflecting the issue. We can't get anyone with the state to disagree with us and tell us where we're wrong,'' said Ross John of the Beaver Clan. According to John, the Seneca Nation is prepared to invest in surrounding areas to help the struggling economy. ''We may be the only people left in Western New York who can turn the economy around,'' he said. NATIVE PRIDE RALLY While tax collection is the latest point of contention between New York state and the Seneca Nation, it is hardly the only one. J.C. Seneca, a Seneca businessman and Tribal Council member, said during a rally Wednesday morning at Native Pride in Irving that the fight over cigarette taxes could lead to toll booths by the Seneca Nation along the state Thruway. ''I think that's been talked about and somewhere down the road, that may be a possibility,'' Seneca said. In 2008, the Senecas ended the right-of-way agreement with New York regarding Interstate 90. At that time, nation leaders put a $2 fee on each vehicle that passes through the reservation. ''They owe us $60 million, but they're not responding and not paying,'' Seneca said. ''They're actually trespassing on our territory with their roadway. ... We've tried to talk to the (Department of Transportation) and the leadership in Albany, but they won't answer our calls.'' Seneca noted many members of the nation are still unhappy with the empty promises of 1976 when the state constructed the Southern Tier Expressway. ''The state is using our roadway every day to benefit them,'' he said. ''We have no benefit from that.'' Legal battles and differences aside, Seneca said he is confident the coming days will not turn violent or close any major highways like it did in 1992 and 1997. ''Right now, that's not an issue. We have communicated to our people it's not the right thing to do,'' Seneca said. ''We don't want to put anyone in harm's way.'' Despite two court victories since Tuesday, court dates continue to fill the calendar for nation leadership. Seneca lamented the ''difficult process'' of awaiting a ruling with so much at stake. ''It's a risk anytime you go to court,'' he said. ''Hopefully, we'll keep receiving favorable rulings.'' http://post-journal.com/page/content.detail/id/565746.html?nav=5018

 

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