Nov 11, 2025 - Grandell "Bird" Logan's remarks at the 231st Treaty Day

Tonawanda Seneca Nation’s statement on the 231st Anniversary of the Treaty of Canandaigua

The Tonawanda Seneca Nation Council of Chiefs commemorates the 231st Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Canandaigua by calling on New York State officials to honor the Treaty, respect the Nation’s sovereign rights, and stop harmful industrial development on the boundary of the Nation’s federally recognized Reservation Territory.

The 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua is one of the most important treaties to the Haudenosaunee and remains the law of the land to this day. The treaty upholds Haudenosaunee sovereignty, establishes “a firm and permanent friendship” between the Haudenosaunee and the United States, and enshrines the right of Haudenosaunee to the “free use and enjoyment” of our lands.

Construction of the Western New York Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) mega-industrial site in the Nation’s homelands just upstream from our pristine Big Woods and waterways violates this historic agreement and disregards our Nation’s strong opposition to the project. The Nation and allies call on New York State officials to uphold the Treaty of Canandaigua: stop the flow of direct and indirect subsidies to the STAMP site and halt future permitting and approvals. New York State must respect and safeguard Nation citizens’ free use and enjoyment of their homelands and protect the Nation’s woods and waterways from further destructive impacts.

In July, the Nation joined with the Sierra Club to file suit against the STAMP developer, Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC), over its plans to locate the region’s largest data center next to the Nation at STAMP. The Nation’s suit highlighted legal flaws in GCEDC’s approvals for the project, and in September GCEDC voluntarily withdrew these approvals. The Nation and Sierra Club declared victory and recently dismissed the action without prejudice.

"George Washington made a commitment to my ancestors that the Treaty would protect our territory forever, and told us that the courts would be open to us if we needed to enforce the treaty's terms," said Chief Roger Hill. "Unfortunately, that is what we have had to do to protect our homelands, and we will do it again if need be."

The recent litigation outcome establishes a clear record of legal success by parties challenging industrial development at STAMP. In 2024, in response to litigation by the Nation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service retracted a key right–of-way permit that would have allowed GCEDC to continue construction of a STAMP wastewater pipeline through the nearby Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge even after fracouts spilled 500-700 gallons of hydraulic drilling fluid into Refuge wetlands. GCEDC’s voluntary retraction of approvals for the data center project is unprecedented in the long history of opposition to industrial development at STAMP and demonstrates the growing power of calls to rethink the future of the site.

“We have asked GCEDC numerous times before to rescind SEQR resolutions because of flaws in their process. Every time until now, they have refused,” said Christine Abrams, Nation Administrator. “This rescission is the first one ever, and shows that we have the power to change GCEDC's actions. We forced them to take this step. So it's an important victory, even though it's one battle in a long fight to defend our homelands and protect our future generations from harm. We look forward to working with our neighbors to envision a new concept for the site that honors our way of life and respects our shared environment.”

In response to GCEDC’s stated intent to consider an amended application from Stream U.S. Data Centers for an even larger data center project, allies across New York State have joined the Nation’s Council of Chiefs in expressing their unwavering and unconditional opposition to the project. More than 100 organizations and 500 individuals have signed a letter to executives at Stream and corporate parent Apollo Global Management in solidarity with this opposition.

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