Cayuga Nation Hosts Ribbon Cutting For Cultural Schoolhouse

Building will be used to teach Cayuga culture

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Dec 09, 2014, 12:03 ET

SENECA FALLS, N.Y., Dec. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cayuga Nation Council hosted a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the new Schoolhouse building. The Schoolhouse, located behind the existing Cayuga Nation offices at 2540 Rt. 89, Seneca Falls, will provide a center for teaching Cayuga culture, including language, songs, dances, ceremonies, and preparation of traditional foods. Its design is inspired by a longhouse, which holds significant cultural importance to the Cayuga.

"The Longhouse has always been the center of Haudenosaunee communities," explained Sam George, Sachem Chief of the Bear Clan of the Cayuga Nation, who led the ribbon cutting. "It has been a long time since there was a Longhouse by the shores of Cayuga Lake. We hope to have one in the future. In the meantime, we will use this Schoolhouse. It will help unite Cayugas who have been scattered from their people and are returning home."

Elements of the design include significant use of wood, and a floor "that has bounce" to allow for dancing. The Schoolhouse is intended for all ages, with classes being designed to meet all levels of ability.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was opened with the traditional Ganohonyohk (Thanksgiving Address) spoken in Cayuga by Jake George, son of the Cultural Resources Coordinator, Alan George.

"In our culture, we are always learning," explains Alan George, "The young learn from their elders and the elders learn from the young."

Other speakers included Pam Tallchief, Clanmother for the Cayuga Nation Bear Clan; Cayuga Nation Language teacher Steve Henhawk of the Wolf Clan; and Kelsey VanEvery of the Cayuga Nation Turtle Clan, a current student in the Cayuga Nation language program.

"I am glad we now have a language program here, so I can learn the language of my people," stated VanEvery. "The language holds knowledge of our culture, and our relationship with the land. It means so much to have a place dedicated to learning our culture here in our homeland."

Construction of the Schoolhouse Project is expected to be complete in early 2015. The language program began October 20th and has ongoing enrollment. This is one of the many positive developments that have occurred since the Cayuga Nation Council regained access to the Cayuga Nation Offices in May 2014.

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SOURCE Cayuga Nation