Tuscarora Environment Program * Haudenosaunee ...€¦ · Tuscarora Indian nation and the company has been authorized to exercise its rights or privileges under the contract

KanęharêØkye 2019

Tuscarora Environment Program * Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force

Table of Content Calendar ……………….….. 2

Skaru:re Rez Life Conf ..…. 3

Friends&Family …………... 4

Salamanders …………......... 5

DEC Summer Camp ….…… 6

Tree Order Form …….….… 7

Internships Available ….…... 8

Page 2 Skaru:ręØ Monthly, March 2019

Volume 10, Issue 3

March 2019 Haudenosaunee Grand Council

Tuscarora Council of Chiefs

and Clanmothers

HAUDENOSAUNEE ENVIRONMENTAL

TASK FORCE (HETF)

Oren Lyons, Political Co-Chair

Henry Lickers, Scientific Co-Chair

David Arquette, HETF Director

TUSCARORA ENVIRONMENT

PROGRAM (TEP)

Rene Rickard, TEP Director [email protected]

Bryan Printup, GIS/Planning [email protected]

Taylor Hummel, Env. Technician

[email protected]

Following the United Nations Earth

Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the

Haudenosaunee held a Grand Council to

discuss the environmental degradation of

our communities. In accordance with the

Great Law of Peace, the Grand Council

passed and agreed, based on

Haudenosaunee protocols and cultural

beliefs, to establish the Haudenosaunee

Environmental Task Force (HETF).

The SKARU:RE MONTHLY is the

official publication of the Tuscarora

Environment Program. You can submit

articles, artwork, photographs, editorials,

and letters of love and happiness to:

SKARU:RE MONTHLY

c/o: Tuscarora Environment

5226E Walmore Road

Tuscarora Nation

Lewiston, NY 14092

#716.264.6011

www.tuscaroraenvironment.org

or our Facebook page

“Tuscarora Environment”

March 5, 2019 - Undoing ‘Bad Press:’ Rethinking Haudenosaunee

Historical Events Erroneously Portrayed in the Jesuit Relations, Peter

Graham Scholarly Commons, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY. 3pm.

Part of the 2018-2019 Syracuse Symposium - Stories. The speaker is

Professor Susan M. Hill, Director, Centre for Indigenous Studies,

University of Toronto. This talk will provide a profoundly different

Onondaga version of the first contact at Onondaga Lake that are recorded

in wampum belts and told in oral stories. Hill’s talk examines the gap

between written and oral versions of the encounter. FMI:

www.humcenter.syr.edu.

March 23, 2019 - 2nd Spring Boutique at Tuscarora, Tuscarora Nation

House, Walmore Road, Tuscarora Nation. 12pm - 6pm. FREE. All vendor

tables are sold out but if you’re still interested, you can contact them to be

put on the waiting list. Kim Kraft will be serving food in the kitchen. FMI:

FB page, ‘2nd Annual Spring Boutique.’ Gahadineh Greene, #990.8724.

March 30, 2019 - Fort Niagara Through Native Eyes: A Native

American History Symposium, Tuscarora Nation House, Walmore Road,

Tuscarora Nation. $25/person. 10am - 4pm. Doors open at 9am. Old Fort

Niagara Association presents the symposium with speakers Michael

Galbon, Dr. Richard Hill and Jamie Jacobs. Lunch is available for $12

more. Please make your reservation by March 27th. FMI:

www.oldfortniagara.org, #716.745.7611.

Apr 3, 2019-Apr 5, 2019 - Understanding ICWA, Albuquerque, NM.

This three-day training provides participants with information about the

basic legal requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA)

and the practice issues involved with ICWA’s implementation. Participants

will also learn how to successfully integrate other federal and state policies

with ICWA—such as the Adoption and Safe Families Act—and support

developing tribal and state agreements and other systems changes. This

training includes information about the recent Bureau of Indian Affairs

ICWA regulations and guidelines. FMI: https://www.nicwa.org/training-

institutes/ or [email protected].

April 4, 2019 - “Treasured Traditions: A Statement of Place”

Exhibition Opens, Iroquois Indian Museum, Howes Cave, NY. The

exhibit, “Treasured Traditions: A Statement of Place” and its related

programming introduces five Iroquois communities and showcases the

actively practiced visual art forms that define, expressed, and reinforce

each of their distinct community and cultural identities. FMI:

www.iroquoismuseum.org.

ON THE COVER: Sunnier days are coming. It’s a

wonderful time of the year when all the water from

these deep snows begin replenishing our

environment and renewing mother earth. And we

get to witness more and more opportunities to feel

the warmth of our grandmother the sun.



By Bryan Printup

The Niagara Falls Gazette Saturday, May 28, 1938

Electric Service To Be Provided

On Indian Reservation

Electric service will be supplied to residents of the Tuscarora

Indian Reservation near Sanborn for the first time in history as

the result of a Public Service commission order issued at

Albany yesterday. The order as reported in yesterday’s Owl

edition of the Gazette, authorizes the Buffalo-Niagara Electric

corporation to extend its system into and across the

reservation.

The extension is to be made in accordance with the terms of a

contract entered into between the corporation and the

Tuscarora Indian nation and the company has been authorized

to exercise its rights or privileges under the contract. The

commission’s order contains a clause that no power house be

constructed on the reservation without the consent of the

council of chiefs.

A report approved by the commission recommending

approval of the contract made between the company and the

Tuscarora Nation states that the Indians residing on the

Tuscarora Reservation are an intelligent, cultured and

progressive people. Among their number are some of the

outstanding agriculturists in one of the most highly developed

agricultural areas of New York.

The need for electricity on the Tuscarora Reservation is

pressing and has existed for many years, according to the

commission’s report. This is the first application, affecting the

Tuscarora Reservation which has been presented to the Public

Service Commission. The approval of the exercise of the

contract will make available to the residents of the reservation

a service similar to that now afforded to the rural residents of

the Town of Lewiston in Niagara county.

The testimony indicated that for a number of years many

residents of the reservation have desired electric service. The

company representative stated that the agreement made was

entered into in response to demand for electric service on the

part of the Tuscarora reservation residents.

The company now has electric lines on two sides of the

reservation and it is intended to extend the lines across the

reservation so as to provide a loop which will obviate delays

in the case of a break in service of one line. The company

does not intend to construct a power house on the reservation.

The probable number of customers was estimated at 75 and

the project involves construction of between seven and eight

miles of lines at an investment of between $14,000 and

$16,000. Annual gross revenue was estimated at about $2,600.

ABOVE: Circa late 1940s. Courtesy of D. Rickard.

ABOVE: Circa 1900s. Courtesy of D. Printup.

We’re always thankful for our community members who share

photos with us - we're very grateful for your generosity.

Sometimes we have photos with no dates or names. Here are a

couple that we could use your help on identifying. Nya:we.


them from predators and ensure their

survival. Unlike the lizard,

salamanders don’t have any claws

and do not have any external ear

openings. Instead they hear from

ground vibrations.

Salamanders are very sensitive to any

type of change in their environment

and they are a good indicator species

to know if there are changes

happening to natural world. If there

is too much pollution or if the water

is acidic it can be very detrimental to

the future of this species.

So, as you take that Spring walk

through the woods remember these

species are slow movers and you

might be lucky to stumble upon one.

If you find one snap a picture and

send to us on our Facebook page - it

definitely would be worth a share!

Additional Resources:

NYS Department of

Conservation Salamander

website: www.dec.ny.gov/lands/

salamanders

SUNY College Environmental

Science and Foresty School

(ESF) salamanders of NY:

www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/

have any shells and must stay in

water so as not to dry out. These

small salamanders are one of the few

species that actually metamorphoses

from gilled aquatic larva into adult

forms to live on the land.

There are 18 different species that

can be found throughout New York

State. This slow-moving amphibian

spends most of their time beneath the

forest floor under moss, leaves, logs

and rocks and are rarely seen because

of their secret habits. They enjoy

cool moist habitats that keep their

skin moist almost slimy, but they will

spend a small portion of their lives in

the water to grow and breed.

Salamanders feed on insects, snails

and earthworms to sustain themselves

throughout the year.

Salamanders have slender bodies,

with short legs and long tails with

skin that is porous allowing them to

breath. Amazingly, they are able to

regenerate a lost limb which protects

T he winter weather continues to

tease us with cold and snow, but

before we know it, we will see the

snow melt and the weather start to

warm. This is the month that

salamanders will start to come out of

hibernation. The rest of the year they

spend most of their time completely

hidden from the world to see.

During the early spring, the migration

will begin in search of streams and

vernal pools. Most will return to

where they were born to mate.

During mating season, the female

salamander will lay her eggs in the

spots that have been fertilized by

males. These jelly-like eggs do not

By Rene Rickard

ABOVE: Spotted salamander on the

ridge at Tuscarora. 2017.

Page 6 Skaru:ręØ

T he sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is

the leader of the trees. This time of

year, the maple trees are thawing and

producing sap that can be made into

syrup for your pancakes! Sadly, climate

change has led to warmer and drier

growing seasons that damage maple tree

habitat and affect the sap’s sugar

content. This is the tree’s food source

during the winter. The reduced sugar

content not only means less sweet syrup,

but also stunted tree growth. While

you’re out there tapping, remember to

thank the trees for their great gift!

Ucikheʔta – Maple Tree

U·ne curata·we· tikaha·wi· – Now they are

fit for sap again

Kareʔnahrareke heʔ – Maple sap

Waʔetkahne ·tyeʔ – One built a fire

Yuriheʔθ – It boils

Uhseryuhkweh – Steam

Kaʔnewi·yu· – Great kettle

Waʔkayeʔnewe haʔw – They carried a kettle

Yehkaraʔnihc – She taps a tree

Ucikheʔta uθre ·weh – Maple syrup

Yahwahraci·yeʔ – He poured it

Uθnahwiʔreh – Pancakes

Yurata·we· – It is a warmed tree (ready to

give sap)

Kahne·ka·t – There is sap in it

Ureʔnakriʔci – It is very sweet

Kaθrewi·tkeʔθ – It extrudes syrup

Wahrakahne ·kuʔ – He took it off the fire

Uʔne ·weh – Bucket

E ʔrahkw – It is collected

Urhaʔnakew – In the woods

θhraye·riks – He fills it back up

BTW: Here is the pronunciation key to help you with the letters. A good suggestion is to say letters and words out loud to help your ear become accustomed to the Tuscarora sounds. Tuscarora Pronunciation Key:*

/a/ law; /e/ hat; /i/ pizza; /u/ tune; /e/ hint; /c/juice; /

ch/cheese; /h/ hoe; /m/ mother; /s/ same; /t/ do; /th/ too; /k/ gale; /kh/ kale; /n/ inhale; /r/ hiss (before a

consonant or word final), run (trilled elsewhere); /

w/ cuff (before a consonant other than y or word-final), way (elsewhere); /y/ you ; /sy/ fish; /θ/

thing; /Ø/ uh-oh; /:/ long vowel, /ˊ/high pitch; /`/low

pitch.*Adapted from Blair A. Rudes, Tuscarora-

English.

T he NYS Department of Environmental

Conservation (NYS DEC) is sponsoring

a limited number of Native American

students to attend a FREE one week summer

environmental camp.

These FREE ($350 value) summer camp

trips are for youth between the ages of 11-17

years old. Parents/Guardians are responsible

for transportation to the camps, and to

provide their camp materials/gear (we do

have some camp gear available at the TEP

office to borrow.)

What’s it like at an environmental camp?

The campers will explore diverse habitats

and learn how human activities affect the

environment. Campers solve challenges,

learn environmental concepts, practice

outdoor skills and spend the week immersed

in nature.

The camp offers wholesome meals and the

Tuscarora Word List:

MAPLE SEASON

kids stay in cabins. For more information

visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/

education/29.html

If you are interested in sending your child

from Tuscarora please call The Tuscarora

Environment Office, #264-6011 for details

on how to apply and for additional info. We

need to submit the children’s names to the

camp by March 8th :)

Camperships are sponsored under a

partnership between the SUNY-ESF Center

for Native Peoples and the Environment and

the NYSDEC.

All of the camps offer sportmans education

classes, including hunting and archery. Camp

Pack Forest also offers shooting sports for the 14

to 17 year olds.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/29.html

http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/29.html


I f you’re interested in purchasing trees from this

year’s Niagara County Soil and Water

Conservation District Seedling Order Form please let

our Office know. We can help you place an order or

provide a copy of the order form. You will need to

provide payment when placing your order.

Order forms and payment are due by Friday, March

8th and the pick up for the seedlings are Fri - Sat, 4/26

& 4/27 at the Niagara County Fairgrounds, Lockport,

NY.

According to their order form, the trees and shrubs

sold are to be used for effective conservation practices

and will not be planted for ornamental purposes.

You could win 1 of 5 gift cards if you can

answer this trivia question:

Q: How Many Different

Salamander Species Are In

New York State?

If you know the answer, give our

Environment Office a call #264.6011 and let

us know. If you try, we’ll enter you into a

drawing for 1 of 5 gift cards. Contest ends

March 29th. (Prizes available for pick up

only.)


Did You Know . .

The average American family

brings home almost 1,500 plastic

shopping bags a year. Only about

1% of those bags are recycled (i.e.

15 bags per family are recycled).

And FYI, about 100,000 marine

animals are killed by plastic bags

annually. *www.nrdc.org

Northern Cardinals, like

flamingoes, use food - such as

grapes or dogwood berries - to keep

up appearances. During the

digestive process, pigments from

the fruit enter the bloodstream and

make their way to feather follicles

and crystallize. If a cardinal can’t

find berries to snack on, its hue will

gradually start fading. *www.mentalfloss.com

Cheektowaga, NY derives its name

from the Seneca work ji-ik-wah-gah

meaning “the place of the crabap-

ples”. Crabapples have been native

to these lands way before Europe-

ans arrived. The apples are very tart

and not usually eaten like how we

eat apples today. It’s believed ap-

ples were first cultivated in Central

Asia, and diversified over hundreds

of years before spreading to Europe

and then N. America in the 17th C. * www.lockportjournal.com

T he summer internship

application season is upon us.

Are you looking for a summer

internship? Or is your child looking

for a job this summer? Here are two

options available.

We have summer internships

available here at Tuscarora

Environment. For high school

students (10th to 12th grade) and for

college students. They are full-time

non-permanent positions here at

Tuscarora. The jobs will pertain to

plum pox virus sampling, forest

detection inventory, fruit fly

sampling, and other tasks in the

Office.

If you’re interested please give our

Office a call to find out more

information, or check out next

month’s Skaru:re Monthly for more

details about the upcoming intern

season here at TEP.

There are other internships available

too. The NY Power Authority

published a list of college-level

summer internships that are

available at their facilities

statewide, including their facility in

Lewiston, NY. It’s their desire to

increase the number of student

applicants from the Environmental

Justice communities that they serve

- including Tuscarora. The

internships include a salary and real

world experience for college

students interested in pursuing a

STEM career.

The 12-week paid internships begin

in June to August 2019. The college

students should be 3rd or 4th year

students only.

If you want additional information

please check out their website

www.careers.nypa.gov.

ABOVE: Our college and high school

interns for TEP. 2018.

Documents

Tuscarora Environment Program * Haudenosaunee ...€¦ · Tuscarora Indian nation and the company has been authorized to exercise its rights or privileges under the contract