Cayuga Nation Council of Chiefs
PO Box 433
Union Springs, New York
13160
May 15, 2021
The Cayuga Nation Council of Chiefs, Clanmothers, Faithkeepers, men, women, and children send greetings and are hopeful this letter finds you and your family in good health and spirits in these unprecedented times.
We would like to bring to your attention a threat that is happening to the traditional Cayuga citizens in the traditional territory of the Cayuga Nation. These residences are in Seneca County, New York, which lies within the traditional territory of the Cayuga Nation.
In the early morning hours of February 22, 2020, the traditional Cayuga citizens living on the traditional territory awoke to the destruction of their schoolhouse/longhouse along with several residential homes and businesses. This act of violence and destruction was ordered by Clint Halftown.
The traditional Cayuga citizens living on the homeland are currently facing another crisis. This crisis is in the form of evictions from their residence by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Federal representative Clint Halftown. In the middle of a global pandemic Clint Halftown has issued eviction notices and court dates to the traditional Cayuga citizens. The Cayuga Nation citizens, Chiefs and Clanmothers consider the court established by Halftown as illegitimate. They are also experiencing daily harassment by an equally illegitimate non-Cayuga police force. How is it that a non-Cayuga citizen attempts to physically remove a Cayuga citizen from their traditional territory?
The Bureau of Indian Affairs recognizes a group led by Federal representative Clint Halftown. Clint Halftown has failed as a Federal representative to the traditional Cayuga citizens. Clint Halftown continues to bring harm, anxiety, and stress to the traditional Cayuga citizens in an already stressful year.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has endorsed Clint Halftown as the Federal Representative and his illegitimate government and now they must remove him before he creates more devastation or death to the traditional Cayuga citizens or harm to innocent American citizens.
The Cayuga Nation Council of Chiefs also state that we do not support Clint Halftown his government or his actions and to cease and desist from using the collective rights of the Cayuga Nation.
The traditional Cayuga Nation Chiefs reference Article VII of the 1794 Canandaigua Treaty which states, "... complaint shall be made by the party injured, to the other: by the Six Nations or any of them, to the President of the United States."
The Cayuga Nation Council of Chiefs asks you as leadership within the United States of American to pressure the President or the Bureau of Indian Affairs to seek the immediate removal of Clint Halftown and his government.
Therefore, we implore upon you to urge your elected representatives to encourage the President to meet with the traditional Cayuga Nation Chiefs to resolve this issue immediately before more violence occurs.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank our allies that are currently camping at locations of some of the traditional Cayuga citizens.
Due to the ongoing pandemic the traditional Cayuga Nation Council has been holding virtual meetings. In consultation with the below listed Cayuga Chiefs, it has been determined that Shoyq:we:s and Deskaheh will sign on behalf of the traditional Cayuga Council of Chiefs.
In peace and friendship,
Cayuga Nation Council of Chiefs
Steve Maracle
Gaji’nǫdáwe̱heh
Andy Warner
Gadagwá:sę’
Blake Bomberry
Hagya’dro̱hne’
Roger Silversmith
Deyohǫwé:tǫ:’
William C. Jacobs
Hadǫdá:heha"
Samuel George
Shoyǫ:we:s
Steven E. Jacobs
Deskaheh