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ALBANY, N.Y. — Advocacy is a key tenet of new Seneca Nation President J.C. Seneca’s approach to governing.
He’s spent significant time over his first few months in office not only communicating with his people, but state and federal lawmakers about how their decisions impact the sovereign tribal nation.
"It’s important that they understand how what they do here in Albany affects our people back home at Seneca Nation so I’ve been all about engagement whether it’s at the federal or the state level," Seneca said.
Tribal leaders are in Albany for what they’re calling Seneca Impact Week. On Tuesday, they invited state legislators to join them to discuss issues.
The president said one of the primary ones is dealing with the proliferation of illegal drugs on the reservation.
"Engagement in regards to trying to get laws stronger and in regards to putting perpetrators away in jail because they’re affecting our communities very negatively and we have to make sure that we do everything that we can for public safety and to protect our people," Seneca said.
He said he also spoke with members of the state Assembly and Senate education committees this week and spent time in Washington several weeks ago advocating for continued education funding. Seneca said one thing they are looking at is the impact of President Donald Trump’s executive order directing the secretary of education to issue guidance regarding how states can use federal formulas to support more K-12 school choice.
Critics are concerned the order could siphon funding from traditional programs but Seneca is going in with an open mind.
"We have to look at all different options," he said. "There are charter schools in the city of Buffalo that some of our people do go to at the moment. The home schooling is always an option as well. I think homeschooling is really good and gives a lot better perspective for learning than maybe the public schools."
The president said Tuesday’s event is just one in a series in which the Seneca Nation will continue to engage with the state Legislature. Seneca said he has not had any face-to-face negotiation with the governor regarding the expired casino gaming compact and there is no meaningful update.
However, a spokesperson said the president and governor did meet last week in which he reminded the governor the Nation is much more than a gaming entity. During that meeting, the Senecas said the governor agreed to travel to the reservation and apologize on behalf of the state for atrocities at the Thomas Indian School; a state-run boarding school on the Cattaraugus Territory, infamous for stories of forced assimilation.
