By Carol Fisher Linn
Leaves fall, neighbors gather, visitors learn about the culture…
It has been an early leaf-peeping season here in Cattaraugus County. Not so much elsewhere. However, if you want to enjoy the leaf-peeping season soon a good reason to head out into the countryside is the Salamanca Seneca Fall Festival happening next weekend at Jefferson Park on Broad Street, October 4-6, Friday and Saturday 11am-9pm; and Sunday 11am-6pm.
Now in its 48th year of bringing the community together, the festival was started to celebrate the culture of the Seneca Nation and the unique relationship between the Nation and the City of Salamanca, the only city in the United States built entirely on official native American lands. The Seneca Nation has much to celebrate – a democratic government that pre-dates the United States Constitution and served as a model for ours. Every year, the U.S. commemorates Constitution Day on September 17, the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution in Philadelphia in 1787. These are the words read at that time: “The original framers of the Constitution, including most notably, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, are known to have greatly admired the concepts, principles and governmental practices of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy (Seneca Nation is part of the Confederacy). Whereas the confederation of the original Thirteen Colonies into one republic was explicitly modeled upon the Iroquois Confederacy as were many of the democratic principles which were incorporated into the Constitution itself.” So, the Senecas have had a strong connection with the U.S. for centuries. This relationship has not always been easy but has survived and flourished with an example here in our own geographic neighborhood.
The Senecas will have a marked presence at the festival through the local Native American vendors selling beadwork, woodwork, arts and craftwork and traditional foods that have sustained them for centuries: corn soup, frybread, game meats and more. A beer tent with seating will be on-site. Dining areas will also be provided. It’s a great opportunity to taste their culture. You won’t want to miss the presentations of their traditional dance on Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully, they will present the girls hoop dance or the women’s shuffle dance so called because their feet never leave the connection to the ground, aka, Mother Earth. Listen to the beauty of their language, almost lost because America wanted them “assimilated.” Traditional regalia will be worn for this dance but perhaps you will be lucky enough to see the ancient healing or Prayer dance with the young women wearing their jingle dresses (made with rows and rows of small metal cones which jingle when they kick their heels).
The interesting story to this event is that for all its longevity it has been bounced back and forth from the initial community organizers to their Chamber several times. About ten years ago, the Chamber wanted to take this community party/celebration out of the community and into Allegany State Park. Seeing this as defeating the whole purpose of the event which was to bring all the community together on its own turf, business owner Ross Ledsome stepped up and declared that the community members themselves would be taking charge of it again. One big hurdle they had to overcome was the fact that this event was always free except, of course, for food/drinks and vendor purchases. Funds had to cover all the entertainment, the pumpkin carver, inflatables, now changed to a dozen or so blowups for the youngsters to play on. This year, Ellicottville’s Ratchet Hatchet will have a presence there at no cost to participants. They even give money prizes to kids so they have money to spend for goodies!
The Nation and the City stepped to the plate to carry the funding. It a designated special time for the community to gather and enjoy each other. Visitors, always welcome, have a great opportunity to learn about the Iroquois culture (for more visit their famous national museum just up the road toward the casino – 82 W Hetzel St) https://www.senecamuseum.org. Truly, a day to create special memories.