RACISM AND OPPOSITION TO THE SENECA’S BUFFALO CREEK CASINO

Is the Seneca casino in Buffalo a racist issue? It sure feels cold in Buffalo to this Seneca woman. The article in Artvoice, “Barry E. Snyder Goes Showbiz” by Bruce Jackson (Artvoice v5n13), gave me spine shivers. Is it people, media, leaders, followers? Please tell me.

I fear going to Buffalo. Why? I look like what I am, Seneca. I know what racism looks like. It is harder to take when it is so public. Media targeted me when the Grand Island land claim was a hot topic. Shredd and Ragan’s ploy to marry off Seneca women gave me a spine shiver too. Then I was really schooled by the “City of Good Neighbors” when young men driving a truck near Houghton Park nearly caused us to go off the road. I was scared and hurt by nasty remarks about what they wanted to do with us !@#$%s. Another slapped his mouth making “woo woo woo” sounds. Now I see that happening again in the media. That is not right.

Personally, I commend citizens of Buffalo for standing up for what they believe. That is what we should do; we should all be involved with what goes on in our communities. To protect families, neighbors, community and ourselves in general, one needs to stand up and move forward with a good mind.

That is not what I see. Personally, I do not think Buffalo deserves one of our casinos; it does not seem wise with such a racist environment. One just needs to drive around the streets of Buffalo to see how people of color are treated. I see racial propaganda concerning Seneca interests. The first anti-casino campaign slogan, “Our City Our Choice,” insulted me. The city of Buffalo is stolen territory! Is it that threatening to see a tribal community pursue economic security? If yes, that is economic racism.

Know your history: Remember Buffalo Creek? What role did Buffalo play in the removal of indigenous peoples, promotion of assimilation and a center for stealing our children? Look at what happened to the Buffalo River, polluted so bad it started on fire. I encourage people to attend Buffalo State’s Heritage Celebration, sponsored by Native American Student Organization. Speakers will address this history, how Buffalo was stolen. I hope you are not insulted, but enriched with knowledge to stand up for what one believes in with a good mind.

I too was nervous about the casinos; visions of smoke-filled rooms filled with temptations were not what I wanted for my family. We had a referendum and our Seneca leaders followed through for our economic future. Every Seneca who wants a education can now pursue that option with financial backing from our nation; many social programs are now reality. Nine acres or more of our original territories is an exciting prospect. Bottom line, I see Seneca families moving forward with good minds.

We are doing well. How will Buffalo treat Senecas when Buffalo casino is as successful as Niagara Falls and Salamanca? Why does my nation want to put a casino in Buffalo? Especially considering the cause of those spine tingles! The Buffalo News provided the reason months ago; the City of Buffalo would pursue other tribes for casino development if we did not fulfill the compact.

I commend public participation, not racial slandering. Look at it from my point of view—our children see that. It hurts me to imagine what it does to young minds. Buffalo, please take a look inside: Why has Buffalo missed out economically? I do not spend my tribal annuity in the City of Buffalo and do not take seriously protestors who act ignorant.

Maria Maybee

Seneca Heron Clan

Seneca Cattaraugus Territory

WHY DO YOU IGNORE THE INKSTAINED WRETCHES?

[Last] week’s Artvoice wants readers to vote for the Best of Buffalo. Fine, but as a 40-year veteran of the newspaper wars in this city, I am disturbed about the local media choices. Does this truly reflect the “media”?

Artvoice is a weekly paper and yet it chose to ignore any choices for the Best of Buffalo from newspapers. The choices are choices for TV, radio, websites, but how about those who work for the print media, including those on your own staff? Other than a local story category, you ignore the hardworking newspeople of this city who provide most of the stories that the other media copycat, usually without attribution or credit.

What about the best government reporter, the best reviewer, the best beat reporter, the best sports columnist—the list is endless and your setting them aside is mindless.

Anyway I will give you a couple of choices: the best government reporter—Brian Meyer; the best hockey reporter—Jim Kelley; and so on. I trust you get the point.

The Buffalo Newspaper Guild once ran a yearly competition for the best work by newspeople in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls region but that petered out with the demise of the Courier Express. It was a lively contest culminating with the annual Page One Ball.

Now I am not saying Artvoice should recreate this, but I do think you should open the category up for newspeople that covers public radio, the press, the weeklies and other “hard reporting.”

Meanwhile I’ll pass on selecting the best dressed, the best personality and vote only for the guy who gets my New York Times and Wall Street Journal to my doorstep on time, except you don’t have a category for that either.

Keep up the good work and you might even finish in the best weekly category.

Paul H. MacLennan

Best in Letter Writing 1987

Buffalo