麻豆传媒

Indigenous Planning, a new course in the School of Architecture and Planning, ended its first semester with a visit to the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum guided by community leaders and elders.

The course was created by Dean Seneca, adjunct instructor in the departments of Urban and Regional Planning and Community Health and Health Behavior, and his Seneca planning colleague, Michael Kimelberg.

Seneca, who earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental design from UB, brings a wealth of experience as the former planning director of the Seneca Nation of Indians, as well as 20 years working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He is the founder of Seneca Scientific Solutions+, a consulting firm with a mission to create healthier and safer communities through evidence-based practices.

Despite its inherent value, the study of Indigenous planning is rarely offered at universities throughout the country. Historically, other countries, like Canada, Australia and New Zealand, have placed greater value on understanding, supporting and collaborating with their Indigenous communities. However, when Seneca proposed the course, it was enthusiastically embraced by both Julia Czerniak, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, and Lucie Laurian, professor and chair of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

“I’m thrilled that we are preparing future professionals with the background needed to build thoughtful and respectful relations with Indigenous people and communities,” Laurian says. “For students who will be working with and for Indigenous communities, it’s essential that they understand not only historical and current contexts, but also key concepts such as sovereignty, self-determination, treaties, tribal membership and tribal recognition, and what those mean in principle and in practice.”

Throughout the semester, students gained invaluable insights into the effects of past and present public policies and actions on Indigenous communities in multiple areas, including land ownership and management, environmental quality, culture, education, economic development and public health. They’ve also learned to look at urban planning from a native perspective, including concepts surrounding sustainability, appreciation for resources and relationship with the land.

“The land gives us so much,” Seneca says. “It’s the food that feeds us; it’s the waters that quench our thirst and bathe us. I ask the students, ‘Do you love the earth? Is Mother Earth happy? Does the earth love us back?’ I’m getting the students to start brainstorming and to develop an understanding of the Indigenous way of knowing and thinking.”

Seneca has also incorporated into the course concepts taught by the late John Mohawk, an associate professor and chair of the former Department of American Studies and champion of the rights of Indigenous peoples. “He said that Indigenous studies is really just a different way of thinking,” Seneca explains. “More cooperation versus conquering, more communal versus the individual, more indirect versus direct criticism. We brought these different philosophies into the planning mix.”

Garrett Croyle says he enrolled in the course because he recognized the value of gaining these unique perspectives in order to effectively serve this community in his future career. His biggest takeaways? “Wholeness,” he says, “and not thinking about things in a linear way. Being able to see a broader picture and that things are more cyclical rather than beginning, middle and end. And it’s not just from a planning perspective but also in the day to day; it makes things feel more complete.”

As the semester progressed, the students reminded Seneca that he’d promised them a field trip. “The students were hammering me a little bit,” he admits.

Calling upon his deep connections in the Seneca Nation community, he organized a class visit to the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum in Salamanca.  The museum, housed in the Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center, exhibits a vast collection of Hodínöhšö馃嚦馃嚠h historical and traditionally designed items and archaeological artifacts.

The group was welcomed by Hayden Haynes, museum director. Tribal councilors Kevin Seneca (a cousin of Dean Seneca) and Klint Nephew talked about the planning work the Seneca Nation must address. Kevin Seneca talked about current planning challenges — a topic particularly relevant for this group — including collaboration with the city of Olean to tackle pollution in the Allegheny River and Reservoir. Nephew shared his inspirational personal story with the students, encouraging them to stay true to themselves as they navigate their own paths in life.

“They were all really great at providing their own perspective,” Croyle notes. “Toward the end of their speeches, they told us that we’re doing positive work and encouraged us to do work with good intention.”

Haynes led the tour, where the students view traditional artifacts, such as beadwork, moccasins, photographs and wampums, and learned about cultural and historic topics, such as clan mothers, historic figures like Mary Jamison (the white woman of the Genesee) and the influential role of Seneca women played in the women’s suffrage movement.

Museum employee Joey “hotigwinyako” Isaac also joined to educate the students about life in the longhouses prior to European colonization.  Isaac shared insights into the identity of the Senecas as well as the challenges they have faced and overcome. “I was honored to educate these ‘young’ minds that came to the museum to help build towards the future they see for themselves,” he expressed. “Always remember that the path we take in our lives becomes clearer when we understand the history of those who walked before us.”

Following the tour, the group enjoyed lunch together featuring traditional corn hominy soup that took two days to prepare and was made with locally grown ingredients.

Haynes expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to share the day with the students. “The group was very respectful, asked great questions, and was engaged throughout the day,” he reflected. “Their genuineness was felt…The Seneca Nation Onöhsagwë: de’ Cultural Center is appreciative of the continued relationship with UB and hopes to continue to have more meaningful exchanges as we move forward.”

That’s Dean Seneca’s hope as well, and he looks forward to continuing this tradition with future classes as well as nurturing the spirit of collaboration between UB and the Seneca Nation. “It would be great to build a strong relationship where we’re able to share resources,” Seneca expressed. “There’s just so many benefits of a strong partnership between the Seneca Nation and the 麻豆传媒o.”