The Seneca Nation witnessed history Tuesday, with the election of Tina Abrams, a voice of leadership within the Nation for decades and an elected member of the Seneca Nation Council for more than 20 years, as President.
She is the first woman ever elected to the Seneca Nation’s highest office since the Nation adopted a democratic form of government under its Constitution in 1848.
“I am humbled,” said Abrams. “Seneca woman have sustained our culture and identity, and preserved our traditions throughout history. Tonight, at long last, a woman will now lead our Nation as President. This is a moment inspired by generations of strong Seneca women who came before me, and one that I hope inspires generations of Seneca women who come after me.”
While the Seneca Nation is a matrilineal society, women did not have the right to vote or hold elected office for more than a century. Seneca women gained the right to vote in Nation elections following a successful referendum in 1964. They won the right to hold office a few years later.
Following today’s election, women will hold all three elected Executive offices in
the Seneca Nation’s government for the first time.
In voting on the Nation’s Allegany and Cattaraugus territories, Abrams received
1,040 votes. Nation members also elected Lenith Waterman as Treasurer with 1,053
votes and Bethany Johnson as Clerk with 1,041 votes. They will each serve two-year
terms.
“The Seneca people did not go to the polls to elect a woman president today. We
went to the polls to choose a president who can lead our Nation with strength, honesty,
vision and conviction. That is my charge,” Abrams said. “Our people have given me a
great responsibility. I will honor their trust by doing everything I possibly can to make
sure that our Nation remains strong and that our sovereignty is always protected.”
Abrams will be sworn-in as president next week. She has served on Seneca Nation Council since 2001, and became the first woman appointed as the Council’s Co-Chair in 2012. Earlier this year, Abrams became the first Native American woman to be honored with the New York State Senate Woman of Distinction Award, which was created to honor women whose achievements, leadership, and dedication have enriched the quality of life in their communities and across the state.
Abrams’ historic victory led another election sweep for the Seneca Party, winning all positions on this year’s ballot. In addition to Abrams, Waterman and Johnson, eight Seneca Party candidates were elected to serve four-year terms on the Seneca Nation Council.
The incoming Councillors from the Allegany Territory are incumbent Councilor and former Seneca Nation President Maurice John, Sr., former Councilor William “Billy” Canella, Jody Clark and Teresa “Bunchie” Redeye. The four new Councilors elected from the Cattaraugus Territory are current Councilor and former President Todd Gates, former Councillors Ross John, Sr. and Presley Redeye, and Corbett Seneca.
The newly elected Councillors will join incumbent Councillors Rickey Armstrong Sr., Joshua Becker, Eliot Jimerson, Lisa Maybee, Klint Nephew, Christian Reiller, Kevin Seneca, and Jonathan Williams on the 16-member Council.
“Throughout this year’s campaign, the Seneca people made it clear that our voice – the voice of the people – needed to heard by our leaders and within our government. Tonight, our voice was heard loud and clear across our territories and we made history,” said Scott Snyder, longtime Seneca Party Chairman from the Cattaraugus Territory. “The Seneca Party’s candidates, led by President-elect Abrams, along with our elected executive and Council candidates, will listen and restore the voice of the people. They are leaders our people can trust, and who can take on the important challenges that face our Nation. The voice of our community will be heard.”
In addition to the executive and Council positions, Seneca Party candidates were also elected to several other Nation offices. The Seneca Party is the dominant political organization in the Seneca Nation, having supported candidates to victory for over 30 years.
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