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Seneca Nation Mothers say many unanswered questions on state casino revenue deal

Nation President Matthew Pagels (center) flanked by 16 other Nation members, with the Seneca Nation of Indians logo in the background.
Seneca Nation
Nation President Matthew Pagels (center) announces the settlement with New York State over casino revenue Jan. 12.

The Seneca Nation has a deal with Albany to pay what might be $800 million to Albany to settle a years-long fight over a state share of casino revenues. The deal also calls for an immediate start to bargaining with Albany over a new casino compact to replace the one which expires next year.

In a statement, Nation President Matthew Pagels said protecting gaming is the Nation's greatest economic priority because it produces revenues that pay for an array of Seneca government activities.

However, Mothers of the Nation member Jody Clark said her group is looking ahead, not to this November's Nation election.

"We know that many of the the actions that maybe the current Council is taking, they do to make sure that they can remain in office after their term," Clark said. "Mothers of the Nation aren't looking to be elected or to stay elected, so we are looking out for the generations to come."

Clark said there are too many unknowns to Nation members and too many undecided matters.

"Paying the state is the wrong thing to do," she said. "I'm saying, though, that we need to let the Department of the Interior and the National Indian Gaming Commission, we need them to do their reviews and make their determinations before the Seneca Nation acts to send that money out and to negotiate a new agreement."

Clark said there is also the issue that many Senecas just don't trust New York State, based on the past, including Albany allowing gaming operations in the Western New York region, even though Senecas are supposed to be the only operators.

Women in the Nation have a long history of power among Senecas. Clark said the Mothers are recognized in Seneca traditions and in the Constitution of 1848 that set up the current governmental system.

"When we feel that something hasn't been handled correctly, it is our duty to step up and to make sure that we try to help the leaders that are there or to try to make sure that we kind of guide their actions, at that point," she said.

Mike Desmond is one of Western New York’s most experienced reporters, having spent nearly a half-century covering the region for newspapers, television stations and public radio. He has been with WBFO and its predecessor, WNED-AM, since 1988. As a reporter for WBFO, he has covered literally thousands of stories involving education, science, business, the environment and many other issues. Mike has been a long-time theater reviewer for a variety of publications and was formerly a part-time reporter for The New York Times.
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