ÇuhyeßáØkye 2017 · 2018-06-22 · skaru:ręØ monthly, june 2017 page 5 cranberries, in open...

ÇuhyeßáØkye 2017

Skaru:ręØ Monthly, June 2017

Volume 8, Issue 6

June 2017

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]

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 Office. 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”

June 9, 2017 - Eco-Healthy Schools and Child Care Training, Tuscarora Health and Community Center, Tuscarora Nation. FREE.

Registration required. 9am-3pm. Hosted by the U.S. EPA Region 2 and

Tuscarora Environment Office. Come learn how the environment in

schools and child cares can impact children’s health. This training will

cover 11 core content areas of environment health, including: pesticides,

air quality, cleaning & chemicals, art supplies, plastics, recycling and

more. FMI: Rebecca Ofrane, EPA region 2, #212.637.4302 or TEP office,

#716.264.6011 x100.

June 10, 2017 - Cayuga Share Farm Picnic, Cayuga Nation, 4061

Truesdale Rd, Union Springs, NY. FREE. 12pm start. No budget potluck

and bar-b-q. Music, storytelling, songs, and a bonfire. Pick-up lacrosse

(with wooden goal posts), and more. Camping is available for Fri and Sat.

Bring your own chair. FMI: #716.298.8557, [email protected].

July 22-23, 2017 - 26th Annual Native American Dance & Music

Festival, Ganondagan Historic Site, Victor, NY. 10am-6pm. $12/adults,

$10/seniors, $7/students, $5/children. Performances include Akwesasne

Women Singers, Bear Fox, Kevin Locke, and Iroquois Social Dancing/

storytelling. FMI: www.ganondagan.org.

July 30-August 3, 2017 - Women Empowering Women for Indian

Nations (WEWIN) National Conference, Isleta Resort Casino,

Albuquerque, NM. Engage for personal & professional renewal,

empowered by great events at this Native women’s conference, all coming

together to build upon the strength and power of our Native women! Look

forward to sessions on person and professional development, excellent

networking and community-building opportunities with Native women

from across the country! Sessions include tools to combat negativity;

connecting our economic wellbeing, identity and leadership; sovereignty

101; lateral violence; women trailblazers; honoring luncheon and more .

FMI: www.wewin04.org, [email protected], or #888.495.9466.

August 14-17, 2017 - Tribal Lands and Environment Forum, Cox

Business Center, Tulsa, OK. The Forum will offer special trainings, field

trips and breakout sessions focused on waste management, brownfields,

emergency response, and more. Tribal water program topics will include

water quality, drinking water, and habitat restoration. FMI: www.nau.edu/

itep/; Todd Barnell, Program Manager, [email protected].

W. Rickard setting a cherry fruit fly trap

at one of our sites at Tuscarora. For more

information about the insect pest survey

this summer see page 6.


America has 2.5 million miles of pipeline and

they’re not all safe. Since 2010, according to the

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety

Administration, operators have reported an average

of 200 spills per year from pipelines, which equals 9

million gallons of oil spilled. Unfortunately new

pipelines aren’t the biggest concern, it’s the old

pipelines installed decades ago that are falling apart.

They are far more challenging to inspect because

older pipes were not designed for inspections.

www.cnbc.com/2017/04/08

Porcupine quills, or spines, are modified hairs

coated with thick plates of keratin, and embedded in

the skin musculature. Their quills grow in varying

lengths and colors, depending on the animal’s age

and species. www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/

Did You Know . . .

New York State has more than 100 different

invasive species they must battle from plants, birds,

insects, mosses, molds and more. With a state

budget for invasive species control in 2016, of more

than $12 million dollars, New York has far more

invasive species of certain types than any other

state. www.nytimes.com/2017/02/08

We are having a paint night with a

Haudenosaunee-theme! Come and enjoy

an evening with friends and create a

keepsake to treasure!

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

7pm-9pm

Open to all Tuscarora residents and friends of

TEP.

To help celebrate our Office’s 20th

Anniversary, the cost will only be

$5 to participate!

(payment must be made prior to class date.)

Light refreshments and drinks

will be served.

To sign up please give our Office a call

#264-6011, first come first serve.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Lyle Logan - Seneca - Deer Clan

“I am enrolled tribal member of the Seneca Nation

who has cultivated a sincere passion for producing

artwork that exemplifies my traditional and

cultural upbringing, this is reflective in the subject

matter of my work. My artwork can best be

described as “traditional imagery represented in a

modern way.” I strive not only to produce expressive and

aesthetically pleasing creations, but also with the intention to give

artistically positive contributions back to my Native community.”


cranberries, in open marshes, where

there was then but small bushes; now

there are tamaracks, soft maples, black

ash, &c. as long as my body. The beaver

dams were in a good state of

preservation as long as I can remember, -

- though then but few beaver left. I have

taken salmon in Eighteen mile creek,

where Lewiston road crosses near

Lewiston, and below the Falls of the Oak

Orchard, with my hands, three feet in

length.

“My mother’s second husband was a

white man named James Pemberton,

who was taken prisoner at the same time

that Jasper Parrish was. He was brought

to Lewiston with the Mohawks. He

remained with the Tuscaroras after the

Mohawks went to Canada, and until his

death.

“I remember when the Indian family -

Scaghtjecitors - lived at the creek at

Black Rock that derives its name from

them. They moved back to Seneca

village, after the land was sold. One of

the family was murdered at ‘Sandy

Town,’ and robbed of twelve dollars.

The murderers were never detected.

The narrator resides at Tuscarora with

his sons, who are good farmers, educated

and intelligent. His fine form would

serve as a model for a sculpture. Tall,

unbent by age; with a countenance, mild,

benevolent, and expressive.

* NOTE. - The author is indebted to

Judge Cook of Lewiston, for some

additional particulars which he adds to

the brief narrative of John

Mountpleasant. When James Pemberton,

was brought a prisoner to Lewiston, it

was decreed that he should be burned at

the stake, to revenge the death of some

Mohawk warrior. Brant interested

himself in saving him; proposed that he

should be saved and adopted. He told

the Indians that he was a man of fine

proportions, (as he really was,) that he

would become useful to them. He

interested the squaws in behalf of the

captive, by promising that some one of

them should have him for a husband.

Managing to divert the attention of the

Indians from their victim, Brant pointed

out to Pemberton a way of escape, which

he pursued with sufficient fleetness of

foot, to enable him to reach Fort

Niagara, where he was protected. The

Indians had compelled Pemberton to

collect the brush and dry wood for his

own destruction. He was stripped naked

- all was ready for the terrible sacrifice,

when Brant’s scheme in his behalf saved

him. The place of the intended burning

at the stake, is a small spot of level

ground, between the dwelling of

Seymour Scovell, Esq., and the Ferry.

Pemberton pointed it out to Judge Cook,

and told him the story of his fortunate

escape. He rained at Niagara until the

peace of ‘83, then went to Tuscarora and

married the mother of John

Mountpleasant. He died in 1806 or ‘7.

His children and grand children reside

at Tuscarora.

W e are looking for one (1) high

school summer intern who is

entering the 10th grade or higher this

Fall 2017 for a 9-10 week paid

summer internship. The position will

consist of 30-hr work week, that will

start June 26, 2017 at the Tuscarora

Environment Office. Work might

also include travel and weekends. In

addition, all interns will be asked to

assist in cultural restoration projects

as needed. The deadline to apply is

4pm, Friday, June 9, 2017.

QUALIFICATIONS

It is preferred but not required that

they have good knowledge about our

Tuscarora environment and culture.

In addition we prefer applicants to

have:

Good writing skills, general

knowledge of computers, and skills

with data collection;

Good verbal/communication

skills;

And Tuscarora/Haudenosaunee/

Native American preference is given.

HOW TO APPLY

Potential applicants are asked to

submit a letter of intent or a resume

and cover letter, and include:

Personal Information (name,

address, cell/home phone number,

email, age);

The grade they will be in the Fall

2017;

What contributions they can

make to the TEP as a summer intern;

Past pertinent work experiences.

Letters (and resumes if applicable)

can be dropped off to:

Rene Rickard, TEP Director

5226 Walmore Road

Tuscarora Nation

Via: Lewiston, NY 14092

If you are interested or know

someone who might be, please

contact our Office at #716-264-6011

for more information.

The deadline to apply is

4pm, Friday, June 9, 2017.

Continued from Pg. 8


W hat do you want to be when

you grow up? It’s surprising

how many words we have for

professions and names for people

who do a specific task. Here’s a good

sampling of words that have to do

with professionals:

Doctor - tá:kteh Architect - ranèhsê:tih Policeman - raØnye:nèhs Medicine man - ranèhkwaØçrayèØne:rih Fisherman - ráhryuh Musician - raØnwèØe:rèh Teacher - yerihê:tih Butcher - raØwahrá:ryuhs Cashier - rahwíhstanèh Farmer - rayèthuhsØa:ka:Ø Painter - rahßúhahs Executioner - raha:rèh Shoemaker - rahnahkwè:tih Carpenter - raØnewyêhè

Writer - raØnèØßhaØá:ka:Ø Brakeman - nehrakaØnúhraraks Clown - uçisnuhkwehúØy Scholar - rahyatèhstayèØnè:rih Ship Captain - raØnyarutárhuhs Professional hunter - raturaçØá:ka:Ø Lawyer - nehrarihwakyènhahs Magician - ruØrènê:ti: Principal - kayaØtakweØnï:yuØ Sculptor - raçtèhrê:tih Soldier - raßútahs Manufacturer - yuyuØné:tyeØ Mason - raçtêhranèh Professional fighter - wakaØriyúØneØ

O ur office is once again conducting

surveillance of Forest Insect Pests, as part

of a USDA APHIS Grant. This summer we’ll

have a total of 30 traps set up throughout 6

different trap sites at Tuscarora.

The survey runs for 8 weeks and we are

targeting 5 different types of forest pests. To

the right are some of the traps we’ve set out at

our sites already. This year we are surveying:

Asian Gypsy Moth (green milk carton),

Emerald Ash Borer (Green Funnel Trap

with z-3 Hexanol lure),

Exotic Bark Beetle (Black funnel trap with

a ethanol UHR lure),

Oak Ambrosia Beetle (Black Funnel Trap

with a Quercivorol Lure)

Cherry Fruit Fly (Yellow Sticky card with

Ammonium Acetate).

Please be mindful of any traps you come across

out in the woods, and be respectful to them. If

you spot one that’s been defaced or vandalized,

please contact our office and notify us.

By Bryan Printup

ABOVE: Unknown.


Excerpt from “Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase of

Western New York: Embracing Some Account of the Ancient

Remains; A Brief History of our Immediate Predecessors, the

Confederated Iroquois, Their System of Government, Wars,

Etc. - A Synopsis of Colonial History: Some Notices of the

Border Wars of the Revolution: And a History of Pioneer

Settlement Under the Auspices of the Holland Company;

Including Reminiscences of the War of 1812; The Origin,

Progress and Completion of the Erie Canal, Etc. Etc. Etc.” By

O. Turner (1849).

John Mountpleasant, a native of Tuscarora, is now sixty eight

years old. His father was Captain Mountpleasant, of the British

army; at one period commandant of Fort Niagara; his mother

was an Oneida; emigrated to Canada during the Revolution;

and afterwards came to Tuscarora. His father and mother,

residing for two years at Mackinaw; that was his birth place,

although almost his entire life has been spent at Tuscarora. He

had a sister, who became the wife of Capt. Chew, of the British

army. Capt. Mountpleasant was ordered to Montreal when his

children were quite young; he was not entirely unmindful of

them; occasionally sent them presents.

“The earliest white people I can recollect, were the English at

Fort Niagara, and a small guard they used to keep at Lewiston,

to guard the portage. When I was a boy, the portage used to

employ five or six teams. I remember well when the early

emigrants used to come through on the trail, going to Canada.

Their children were frequently carried in baskets, strung across

the backs of horses.” “The Middaughs, came from the North

River; when they first came they occupied one of the old

houses left by the Mohawks. Hank Huff, and Hank Mills, were

early Lat Lewiston. Huff had a Mohawk wife, and used to live

in the house that Brant left. When I was a small boy, I used to

go through to Genesee river, with my mother. There was

Poudery at Tonawanda, ‘a white man’ (Berry), keeping a ferry

over the Genesee river.

“Deer were not plenty in this region, the wolves hunted them;

driving them into the lake, they would wait until they were

wearied with swimming, and catch them as they came on

shore. In periods of deep snow and crusts, they used to make

great havoc among them. As the wolves grew scarce, the deer

became plenty. A strip of land between Ridge and lake, used to

be a great resort for bears. Our best hunting grounds used to be

off toward the Genesee river. Secord was an early and

successful white trapper in this region. Some Tuscarora hunters

once killed a panther, in the marsh near Pekin. There were no

crows until after the War of 1812. The bittern, was often seen

about the marshes. The white owl used occasionally to make

his appearance here. Flocks of swans were often seen about the

Islands above the Falls.

“When I was a boy, most of the marshes in Niagara county,

were open ponds. I have been with my mother, picking ABOVE: Unknown.

Continue to Pg. 5

ÇuhyeßáØkye 2017 · 2018-06-22 · skaru:ręØ monthly, june 2017 page 5 cranberries, in open...

Documents