“TO REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE, YOU NEED TO FORGET WHO THEY TOLD YOU TO BE.”

Presented by: Denise Pierce for AIS370 American Indian Languages at ASU

LIFE HISTORY INTERVIEW WITH AËDZA:NIYO’

Seneca Nation of Indians

“Keepers of the Western Door”

A Part of the Haudenosaunee“The People of the Longhouse”

• Born on May 22, 1975 in Gowanda, NY

• 38 years young

• Tribal member of the Seneca Nation, Turtle Clan

• Traditional Longhouse way of life

• Kea:wak – Madison, 14, Turtle Clan, Seneca

• Grew up in the traditional community of Newtown, on the Cattaraugus Territory (reservation) in Western New York

• Changed her name from Renee’ McCoy Seneca to Aëdza:niyo’ McCoy Seneca – which means “Hard Earth”

• Understands, speaks, reads & writes in Seneca at a proficient level

• L1 is English but was also immersed in Seneca quite often as a child

• Holds a degree in Nursing & an unfinished degree in Human Services but decided that what she needed to learn she would not find at a university

• Currently teaching Seneca Language in a local school district & also provides Spiritual Healing & Guidance

AËDZA:NIYO DEMOGRAPHICS

Family

• Grandparents Susie(?) & “Mutt” Stevens, Fluent Speakers L1 Seneca

• No’yëh – Darlene Seneca-Lay, Turtle Clan, Seneca

• Speaks English, understands Seneca & English

• Ha’nih – Clayton McCoy Seneca, Hawk Clan, Seneca

• Spoke English, not sure if he spoke/understood Seneca because he did attend boarding school

• Step ha’nih – Dennis Lay, Seneca

• Fluent Seneca speaker, speaks/understands English

• L1 language is Seneca

• Hahji’ – Clayton McCoy Seneca 48, Turtle, from father’s previous relationship

• Ahji’ – Marcy Ann Isaac 42, Turtle, from mother’s previous relationship

• Ke’gë’ – Terah Seneca 27, Wolf Clan, adopted at the age of 6 months

• Grew up in our traditional community of Newtown on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in WNY

• “I was a latchkey kid & would stay with my grandparents after school. My grandparents didn’t speak English.”

• “I learned a mix of Seneca & English at home. My mother and her 10 sisters and [1] brother (and their children) would gather at my grandparents house in the evening to visit. Because my grandparents didn’t speak much English, my aunts and uncle would translate. My great-uncle lived with my grandparents and was always teaching and testing the kids’ language skills.”

Early Life & Language History

• Started Head Start in 1978 on the reservation

• Memories: Remembers being afraid of going to school, her mom told her that she cried when she put her on the bus. Also said her dad cried too

• Her mom told her that it must have triggered something from his boarding school experience, because he had a habit of letting her skip school when she wanted

• “When I started school & still today, I don’t realize that some of the words I am using are Seneca. Some of my language is natural and I always assume that people know what I’m saying.”

• Reading: “I didn’t like reading then as much as I enjoy it now. But my parents always allowed me to order books from school. I always ordered enough to get the free poster.”

Early Schooling

“Lol! Of course I'm the one with the ribbon shirt or [probably] traditional dress

& beaded necklace.”

• Attended elementary & high school in Gowanda, NY

• Didn’t have many challenges in high school, was a decent student and got along with everyone .. she hung out with both Native & non-Native kids

• She was always & still is involved in organizations

• The high school had a strong Title 7 Indian Education program

• She really liked English, did well in math & science but didn’t care for either

• Even at a young age she preferred Holistic/Indigenous Science over Newtonian science

• Played basketball & softball in school & still plays in softball & kickball leagues today

• She was a good student but made it known to her teachers that she didn’t want to memorize facts or other people’s opinions to pass a test … she wanted to stimulate her mind

General Education

• “It has become an extended family effort to use the language. In my home we are using about 75% Seneca. At first I was speaking & my daughter was only able to understand. Now, she is understanding & responding.”

• “Sadly, the only place I hear our language is in the Longhouse, where we gather for ceremonies. A few of us, with the passion to use the language, are trying to create speaking communities.”

• “We are witnessing the loss of our language. Of the 13,000 Senecas living in the U.S. & Canada, only about 20 are fluent. I am fortunate that [some] are members of my family…a great-uncle, my stepfather, and his brother.”

• “I think reading & writing are important for the preservation of the language. But my fluent elder that I have learned from use to say “nothing beats a warm body” – aka learning from a living person.”

Current Uses of Seneca Language

• “I am currently teaching in a local school district. Some of the barriers that I have come across are the lack of time & the disconnection of the youth from our traditional ways of living & thinking.”

• “I think technology will play a huge part in the preserving & perpetuating of the language. The group of teachers that I am working with are taking a more traditional & holistic approach. We are discussing healing & learning new methods for accelerated 2nd language acquisition for Native languages.”

• “What do I want to pass on to my children/grandchildren? I guess that anything is possible…to look past cultural conditioning, which I refer to as the ‘American Grid’, that dictates how we should live our lives. Once we get that sense of Spiritual “freedom” or healing I hope my children & grandchildren will come to realize that their capabilities can be beyond measure!”

Prospective for Language & Culture

“To remember who you are, you need to forget who they told you to be.”

Nya:weh. Dane’hoh.