The Seneca Nation is a Native American tribe in the Iroquois Confederacy with 7,200 members and three territories in western New York. They were traditionally agricultural and lived in longhouses, with property belonging to women. The nation has a constitution and government branches, and owns several casinos and a tourism industry.
The Seneca Nation is one of six Native American tribes that make up the Iroquois Confederacy. There are 7,200 people enrolled as members of the Seneca Nation. Situated on land made available by the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua, the nation owns three territories, including the city of Salamanca in western New York. The nation’s headquarters are in Irving, NY,
The nation’s territories are the Allegany Reservation, the Cattaraugus Reservation, and the Oil Springs Reservation. The Allegany Preserve consists of nearly 20,500 acres (8,300 hectares) and is located along both sides of the Allegany River. The Cattaraugus Reservation has more than 21,000 acres (8,500 hectares). The Oil Springs Reservation is 1 square mile (2.5 square kilometers) and includes oil springs that were traditionally used for medicinal purposes by the Senecas.
The Seneca were traditionally an agricultural society and raised crops of corn, beans, and squash. Hunting, fishing and gathering complemented the foods grown. As the westernmost tribe of the Iroquois Confederacy, the Seneca people were known as the keeper of the western gate.
Traditionally, the Seneca home was a longhouse, which was a bark-covered shelter that housed an extended family that was part of the same clan. The Seneca trace their clan membership through their mothers. The oldest woman in the longhouse was the head of the household. When a man married, he moved into the bride’s longhouse. All property belonged to the women, and clan mothers appointed and removed tribal chiefs.
The main system ended when the Constitutional Convention of the Seneca people established the nation in 1848. The nation’s constitution provides for election of 16 councilors to four-year terms. This tribal council forms the legislative branch of government. A president, treasurer, and clerk are elected for two-year terms and make up the executive branch. A judicial branch consists of the peacemaking, appellate, and surrogate courts.
The Seneca Nation, also known as the Seneca Nation of Indians, the Seneca Nation of New York and Salamanca, is a federally recognized tribe. The tribe owns several casinos, including Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo, NY, Seneca Gaming and Entertainment in Irving, NY, and Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls. The nation also has a thriving tourism industry.
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