AkenhaØkyeháh 2014 · 2019. 6. 12. · Skaru:ręØ Monthly, July 2014 Page 3 D on’t forget to apply for the Tuscarora Nation Book grant. The grant is open for enrolled Tuscaroras

AkenhaØkyeháh 2014

Skaru:ręØ Monthly, July 2014

Volume 5, Issue 6

July 2014 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

Noah Point, Assistant Director

TUSCARORA ENVIRONMENT

PROGRAM (TEP)

Neil Patterson, Jr. Director [email protected]

Rene Rickard, Office Administrator [email protected]

Bryan Printup, GIS/Planning [email protected]

Patti Fischer, Habitat Restoration [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 admiration to:

SKARU:RE MONTHLY

c/o: Tuscarora Environment

5226E Walmore Road

Tuscarora Nation

Lewiston, NY 14092

Or call: #716.264.6011

www.tuscaroraenvironment.com

or our Facebook page

“Tuscarora Environment”

August 7-8, 2014 - 2nd Annual Tribal Natural Resources Law

Conference, The Westin, San Diego, CA. “Projects, Protection, Progress

& More” this year’s theme for the Continuing Legal Education (CLE)

conference, with such topics as Fracturing, Applying Endangered Species

Act to tribal lands, Protecting Tribal Cultural Resources and more. FMI:

www.cle.com.

August 12-15, 2014 - Seneca Art & Nature Camp, Ganondagan

Historic Site, Victor, NY. $175/youth 9-13 years old. 9:30am-4pm.

Reflecting on the Seneca and Haudenosaunee relationship with art, nature

and everyday life though a comprehensive experience with the

environment. Activities include trail walks, games like longball, archery

and atlatl, outdoor activities and art project. FMI: www.ganondagan.org.

and #585.742.1690.

August 15-17, 2014 - 3rd Annual OnᴧyoteØa:ka: Gathering, Cultural Heritage Grounds, Oneida, WI. 3rd Annual Wooden Stick Expo. Eastern

teams include Onondaga Red Hawks, Do-sho-ay Buffalo Old Sticks, and

Bucktown Pinewoods. All games played with wooden sticks only. FMI:

#920.496.5396, facebook.com/woodenstickexpo.

August 20-25, 2014 - Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth,

Akwesasne, NY. Please consider joining them for a time of reflection.

August 27, 2014 - Monarchs: Mexico or Bust!, Reinstein Woods Nature

Preserve, Depew, NY. Come learn about monarch butterflies and their

amazing flight to Mexico. Enjoy a short film about their migration, and

then learn how to make your yard butterfly friendly. FMI: #716.683.5959.

September 27-28, 2014 - EcoSpirit Native American Environmental

Conference, Niagara Falls Convention Center, Niagara Falls, NY. $150

till 7/31/14 and $200 until 9/27/2014. Tribal speakers from across the U.S.

will address issues about environmental issues and how Native

Americans . FMI: www.sites.google.com/site/ecospiritconference/.

A pair of frogs enjoying the water

created by tire tracks on a trail by the

ridge. They were encountered during

one of the invasive pest inventory

check-ups by the summer interns.

Coming up ...


D on’t forget to apply for the Tuscarora Nation Book grant. The grant is open for enrolled

Tuscaroras attending college,

university, trade school or vocational

training program. The money is

intended for books and/or supplies.

In return, your clan mother may call

upon you to help at Tuscarora Nation

events for the betterment of our

people. When your check arrives, a

list of possible avenues for assistance

will be attached. Checks will be

written and mailed the 3rd Monday

of August/January.

Deadline

For Fall term: August 1st

For Spring Term: January 2nd

Amount of Award

Full-time Student: $250 semester

Part-time student: $125 semester

Trade/Vocational: $250 semester

To apply and for more details about

requirements and eligibility please

pick up an application at the TEP

office, the front off of the Tuscarora

Indian School or at

www.tuscaroraenvironment.com.

DATE: August 14, 2014

TIME: 6pm-8pm

PLACE: Tuscarora Nation House

Community Room

This meeting is an introduction to several

drinking water options for the Nation, intended

to support clan meetings about the possibility

of public water at Tuscarora.

1. Introduction

2. Background -

Neil Patterson Jr.

Tuscarora Environment

3. Drinking Water Options -

Jonathan Rash

Indian Health Services

4. Q&A

5. Discussion

For More Information: Tuscarora Environment Office, #716.264.6011

2014 Book Grant

Reminder

Calendar of Natural Events - August by Osias Fischer

August 2 - Shorebirds migrating southward

August 12 - Perseid Meteor Shower peaks

August 13 - Joe-pye Weed in bloom

August 20 - Male cicadas buzz on warm days

August 25 - Beekeepers extract honey from hives


LEFT: About 1957. Mt.

Hope Indian School.

LEFT: About 1900. Simon

Thompson, husband to Susan

Patterson.

2014 Tuscarora Princess Contest Winner

Bria Fauzey, Turtle Clan

Hand Drum Competition

1st place - Solon Spruce, Seneca

2nd place - Tawnya Brant, Mohawk

3rd place - Randy Greene, Tuscarora

Smoke Dance Contest

0-5 yrs: 16 registered tiny tots. Girls 6-12: 1st

Daelynn Smith; 2nd Jocelyn Bissell; 3rd

Nina Hamby. Boys 6-12: 1st William Crouse

III; 2nd Cusin Lyons; 3rd Brian Smith. Teen

Girls 13-17: 1st Danielle Duby; Arriana

Smith; 3rd Shoneida Hill. Teen Boys 13-17:

1st Noah Greene; 2nd Tosh Hamby. Women

18-49: 1st Monique Powless; 2nd Nicole

Jimerson; 3rd Brittany Clause. Men 18-49:

1st Solon Spruce; 2nd David Smith; 3rd

Heath Hill. Women 50+: 1st Eva Smith; 2nd

Jerrie Lea. Men 50+: 1st Orville Greene.

Memorial Raised Beadwork Competition

Boot w/ Cuff Category

1st place - Jamie Gilbert, Tuscarora

Doll Category

1st place - Claudia Troiano, Tuscarora

Pocket Purse w/handle Category

1st place - Brenda Fauzey

2nd place - Judy Judware, Tuscarora

3rd place - Jenelle Brayley, Cayuga

Moccasin Category

1st place - Mary Annette Clause, Cayuga

2nd place - Caroline Bigtree, Mohawk

Youth Category

1st place - Sage Hucks

2nd place - Kyleigh Bazinet

Tuscarora Children’s Contest

Birth-1 yr old Category

Girls: Onalee Porter (7 months)

Boys: Elijah Hill (11 months)

2 yrs old - 3 yrs old Category

Girls: Chiara Yellow (2 yrs old)

Boys: Leland Smith (3 yrs old)

4 yrs old - 5 yrs old Category

Girls: Kierstin Bazinet (5 yrs old)

Boys: No Winner

10k Race (118) and Fun Run (38) Winners

10k 1st: Matthew West (N.F., ON)

10k 2nd: Sean Squire (Grand Island)

Fun Run 1st: Gerry Penner (Virgil, ON)

Fun Run 2nd: Kimberly Dunlop (Amherst)

By Bryan Printup

RIGHT:

Gansworth and

Thompson.

Carlisle Indian

School, PA.


I n habitat restoration and conservation, GIS is a powerful tool for studying ecological changes,

habitat quality and plant life

distributions. With GIS we can map

where plants are moving to, visualize

types of habitats for birds and small

animals, and locations of food

sources and endangered/rare plants

used by native birds.

What is GIS?

Geographic Information Systems

(GIS) is a computer software used for

storing, analyzing, and displaying

spatial data. It allows TEP to

visualize and investigate

relationships between various

geographic features, such as land

elevation and vegetation cover with

other layers like residential acreage,

population density at

Tuscarora and soil

usage.

Since 2010, the

Tuscarora

Environment Office

has been working on

a habitat restoration

project to aid in the

redevelopment of

our environment to a

more “natural state.”

Although we are an agricultural

society, we see the need for balance

with the natural world.

The use of GIS in habitat restoration

begins with the use of soil layers,

infrastructure, waterways and land

use layers. Next, we collect site-

specific data for the restoration plots

and enter it into our Global

Positioning System (GPS) unit. Some

of the data collected includes wetland

hydrology, hydrophytic vegetation

presence, dominant plant species,

drainage classes, hydric soil

indicators and more.

Finally, we upload the data from the

GPS unit to the GIS system where we

can begin manipulating the layers of

information. Once we have a clearer

understanding of how our restoration

project is going, we can begin

developing a comprehensive plan for

the future of a “new environment.”

T he annual rabies bait drop is happening August 24th at Tuscarora. The Environment

Program has been working with the

U.S. Department of Agriculture to

eradicate the rabies virus by

facilitating vaccine bait drops from

small airplanes. So please be on the

lookout for them flying over.

The new bait consists of a blister

pack containing the vaccine ONRAB.

The packets are slightly larger than a

quarter and often coated with sweet

attractants with vegetable-based fats,

wax, icing sugar, vegetable oils, and

artificial marshmallow flavor.

Humans and pets should leave the

bait undisturbed if encountered. If

contact with bait occurs, the contact

should be rinsed with warm water

and soap. Annual rabies bait drops

began in 1995 on the reservation.

For additional information, please

contact the TEP office and check

out the website: http://

www.dhhr.wv.gov/oeps/disease/

zoonosis/rabies/pages/orv.aspx

By Bryan Printup


T he TEP office is fortunate every year to have the support of SUNY-ESF to help us provide an

environment for high school students

to gain valuable work experience at

Tuscarora. For the past 6 years, high

school students have been a part of

many of our projects including the

TCSA, longhouse project at the NYS

Fair, family garden plots at the Picnic

Grove, invasive plant removal

project, insect pest inventory, and

more.

Owen Chapman (Deer clan) a

freshman at NCCC, is the son of Jim

and Erin Chapman. His plans include

studying Environmental Sciences and

transferring to SUNY-ESF in 2015.

Owen helps with the TCSA garden,

participates in the ‘Journey to the

Central Fire” paddle, and assists the

other interns with their projects like

the Healthy Forest Walks project and

the invasive pest inventory.

Osias Fischer (Beaver clan) a junior

at Niagara-Wheatfield H.S., is the

son of Bubs and Patti Fischer. He

plans to be a lawyer and attend

Harvard University. Osias is part of

the TCSA garden crew and works

with the college interns on their

projects. He recently attended the

Wabanaki Youth Science Program

(WaYS) summer camp for northeast

native students.


S pear fishing is a vital part of our culture and a tradition come every spring. It was key during

times of hardship as a food source,

and the most exciting time of the

year because of the sport and river

life associated with the time. This

tradition is one of the most effective

ways to harvest our local fish.

Unfortunately due to regulations by

the New York State Department of

Environmental Conservation (NYS

DEC), spear fishing on the Niagara

River has become prohibited. As a

result, an activity for Tuscarora that

was once so important and

fundamental has now dwindled.

For us spear fishing was an effective

method of acquiring food and an

economic practice of the Tuscarora

Nation. The importance of fish to the

diet of the Tuscarora people was well

established for centuries. Being close

to a river has been an essential

feature to Tuscarora settlement

patterns, due in large part to the

cultural significance of fish. More

than the practice of fishing, spearing,

and netting, the life at the fishing

camps was an important mechanism

to pass on the oral traditions of the

community. Prior to the Niagara

Power project, the Tuscarora people

had built and used fishing docks on

the lower Niagara River.

Sometime after the Project was built,

the NYS-DEC developed their

fishing regulations to try and

maintain the preservation of

particular “sportfish” species such as

Salmon, trout, Northern Pike and

Muskellunge. “Recreational anglers”

feel threatened by spear fishing due

to the fact that Spear fishermen kill

any fish that is speared, while the

“anglers” have the option to release

or harvest.

Native people have established spear

fishing rights in other states and

provinces. Spear fishermen follow set

catch limits of each fish to ensure

spearing is not significantly effecting

fish populations.

Allowing us to revive this dying

pastime would not be devastating to

any fish population, furthermore it

would allow us to express and

educate about our history and culture.

Giving Ękwehę:we an exemption

from these regulations would allow

the spear fishing tradition to be

passed down, enabling us to have a

deeper appreciation for our

environment.

Any questions about spear fishing

please feel free to stop by the

Environmental Office.

Resources: * “Cultural Heritage Districts of the

Haudenosaunee on the Niagara

Frontier” by Rick Hill, Haudenosaunee

Standing Committee, 2006.

* NYS-DEC website, www.dec.ny.gov

Language List

1. Sturgeon - ka`:raØ 2. Spear - uhsé:kwareh 3. He thrusts it - RačuØríθahs 4. I speared it - WaØkčuØriθ 5. He stays over night - rènèhwé:čèhs 6. Banks of River - UhθèØkareh 7. Lewiston - YehéwakwaØthaØ 8. Crowd - UØteyeh 9. Springtime - nèwúhstahkwah 10. Spear-Carrier (Turtle Clan Chief’s

name) - SekwaríØθre:

By Brad Thomas

Skaru:rèØ Monthly Tuscarora Environment Office 5226E Walmore Road Tuscarora Nation Lewiston, NY 14092

Skaru:rèØ Resident

Did You Know . . .

The 2012-2014 North American drought,

originated in the midst of a record

breaking heat wave. Low snowfall

amounts in winter, coupled with the

intense summer heat from La Nina,

caused drought-like conditions to

migrate northward from the southern

U.S., wrecking havoc on crops and water

supply. It has exceeded, in most

measures, the 1988-1989 North

American drought, the most recent

comparable drought, and is on track to

exceed that drought as the costliest

natural disaster in U.S. history.

Recently the largest concentrating solar

power plant in the world opened up in

southern California. Ivanpah harnesses the

abundant sunlight of the southwest U.S. to

provide power on a massive scale. The

facility has the capacity to generate 392

megawatts (MW) of clean electricity -

enough to power 94,400 average American

homes. In the last five years alone the U.S.

has doubled the amount of energy they have

produced from this vital, renewable

resource. www.energy.gov

Recycling paper starts

at the paper mill where

de-inking facilities

separate ink from the

newspaper fibers

through a chemical

washing process. A

slushier turns the old

paper into pulp, and

detergent dissolves

and carries the ink away. Next, screens remove

contaminants like bits of tape or dirt. The

remaining pulp is bleached and mixed with

additional pulp from wood chip to strengthen it.

The watery mixture is poured onto a wire, a

continuously moving belt screen which allows

excess moisture to drain through. By the time the

mixture gets to the end of the belt, it’s solid

enough to be lifted off and fed through steam-

heated rollers which further dry and flatten it into a

continuous sheet of paper. This paper machine

produces finished newsprint at the rate of 3,000

feet per minute. www.recycle.uoregon.edu

Documents

AkenhaØkyeháh 2014 · 2019. 6. 12. · Skaru:ręØ Monthly, July 2014 Page 3 D on’t forget to apply for the Tuscarora Nation Book grant. The grant is open for enrolled Tuscaroras