Seneca’s meet with Paterson on Trip to WNY

Attending the 30-minute meeting for the Nation were Council Chairman Richard Nephew, Councilors J.C. Seneca, Michael John, Travis Jimerson, Al George, and Senior Policy Advisor Robert Odawi Porter. Nation President Barry E. Snyder Sr. was out of town and unable to attend the meeting at the Amherst Marriott.

The Foreign Relations Committee of the Nation issued the following statement after today’s meeting:

“We had a positive discussion with the governor and we agreed to meet again. We’ve set up a process to arrange those future meetings. The governor’s willingness to meet with us is a continuing recognition of our treaty and sovereign rights.”

On Dec. 5, President Snyder and other Nation leaders met with Gov. Paterson at his Manhattan office. The governor’s staff and Seneca leaders also met in Albany Feb. 10 to discuss a Sullivan County casino.

Council Chairman Nephew said after the meeting that the Seneca Nation is interested in a substantive dialogue with New York State on many issues.

“The starting point for discussions must begin with the state recognizing our treaty rights as guaranteed by the United States government,” Nephew said. “The Seneca Nation wishes to build a genuine partnership with the state which can occur when the state focuses on the contributions and positive impact the Nation makes to the New York economy.”