The Seneca Peoples

History & Culture

The Seneca Nation, known as the “Keeper of the Western Door”, historically occupied the Finger Lakes area of Central New York and the Genesee Valley in Western New York. They were the westernmost of the Six Nations. They typically lived in longhouses along riversides, in well fortified villages. They relied heavily on agricultural production, primarily growing the “Three Sisters:” Corn, Beans, and Squash. The Seneca were well known for their skills in warfare, but were also noted for their diplomatic and oratory skills. (“History”)

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Cattaraugus Reservation of the Seneca Nation, Cattaragus,
Erie and Chautaqua counties, New York
Source: NYPL
The original silver medal presented by George Washington to Red Jacket 
Source: Library of Congress

The Revolutionary War

Though initially the Seneca attempted to remain neutral in the conflict between Britain and its rebellious colonies, they soon found themselves forced to choose sides (Calloway, 26).The Seneca chose to align with Britain, due to assurances from the crown that the colonists would be easily subdued and that the English King would reward their loyalty (Seaver, 71-84). This would ultimately prove to be a mistake, as Britain would lose the war. The Seneca would be punished by the new American government, with various treaties and agreements causing them to lose large amounts of territory (Six Nations et al 4-6; “To George Washington from the Seneca Chiefs, 1 December 1790”).

References:
Calloway, Colin G. (Colin Gordon). “Corn Wars and Civil Wars” in The American Revolution in Indian Country: Crisis and Diversity in Native American Communities. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.

“History.” Seneca Nation of Indians, December 21, 2021. https://sni.org/culture/history/.

Seaver, James E. A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary Jemison (Canadaigua, N.Y.: J.D. Bemis, 1824), pp. 71–84. http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5826/. Accessed November 28, 2022.

Six Nations, Oliver Wolcott, George Rogers Clark, United States 1785 Jan. 21, and Continental Congress Broadside Collection. “Articles
of a treaty, concluded at Fort Stanwix.” New York: s.n, 1785, pp. 4-6.
https://americanindian.si.edu/static/nationtonation/pdf/Treaty-of-Fort-Stanwix-1784.pdf. Accessed November 28, 2022.

“To George Washington from the Seneca Chiefs, 1 December 1790,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-07-02-0005. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 7, 1 December 1790 – 21 March 1791, ed. Jack D. Warren, Jr. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1998, pp. 7–16.] Accessed November 28, 2022.

Imbedded Images:
https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/6bbfd060-c916-0133-537d-00505686a51c
https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3c25642/

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