Tribal History
The Cayuga Nation is known as "The People of the Great Swamp". Cayugas are one the five original members of the Haudenosaunee, known as "The People of the Longhouse". The Cayuga Nation's homeland is found in the Finger Lakes Region of a territory now called New York. Cayuga Lake and its northern shores were the primary locations of many villages of the Cayuga people. They are said to be found between their two brothers, the Onondaga (to the east) and the Seneca (to the west). The Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca, Oneida, and Mohawk are the original members of the Haudenosaunee. Their way of life was admired by many of the founding fathers of the United States of America and many governance principles of the Haudenosaunee were rolled into the American form of governance. These principles were given to the Haudenosaunee as gifts from the Peacemaker.
As the American colonists and the British began to war against each other, Cayugas and other members of the Haudenosaunee were caught in the middle of the Revolutionary War. Some were said to be fighting with the British, some with the Colonists, and some abstained altogether. Nonetheless, the Cayugas were loyal to their families and to their land. As land encroachments occurred from both sides of the war, Cayugas defended themselves. As war continued to vacillate between the two possible victors, Cayugas could be found on both sides, hoping to be found in a negotiating position for land and peace when the conflict was over.
Following the Revolutionary War, in 1779, General George Washington commissioned General John Sullivan and James Clinton to destroy the Cayugas and other members of the Haudenosaunee. These two generals led 6,200 troops into many villages and crop fields of the Cayugas and the Haudenosaunee to destroy them. There was no complete victory over the Haudenosaunee, because many tribal members and bands of each tribe were scattered (to Ohio, Canada, and Buffalo Creek). Cayugas that relocated to Ohio were later moved to a territory now called Oklahoma. Cayugas that relocated to Canada now reside on the Grand River Reservation at Six Nations. The Cayugas that remained on native land negotiated with the first President of the United States of America.
On November 11th, 1794, the Cayuga Nation, along with the other members of the Six Nations (or Haudenosaunee), signed the Treaty of Canandaigua that established peace between the United States and the Haudenosaunee. The treaty established peace for needs of the United States, but it also provided sovereignty for each Haudenosaunee Nation within its lands. It established explicit federal powers of the United States over the state of New York. It grandfathered previous treaties made between the state of New York and Haudenosaunee Nations, but also established jurisdiction over the state of New York as it pertained to Indian affairs and transactions. This treaty remains in full force today.
Over a series of illegal land transactions and treaties, New York State has taken all the lands of the Cayuga Nation. In accordance with the Treaty of Canandaigua and the Constitution of the United States of America, the State of New York neglected to seek federal approval for these land transactions and claimed powers of the state in Indian Affairs, of which they have none. As a result, the State of New York still claims the Cayuga Nation has no reservation and will not permit the Cayuga Nation free use and enjoyment of a treaty-established reservation. The Cayuga Nation continues to fight for its treaty rights and will continue to seek to have those rights upheld by the State of New York and the United States of America.
As the American colonists and the British began to war against each other, Cayugas and other members of the Haudenosaunee were caught in the middle of the Revolutionary War. Some were said to be fighting with the British, some with the Colonists, and some abstained altogether. Nonetheless, the Cayugas were loyal to their families and to their land. As land encroachments occurred from both sides of the war, Cayugas defended themselves. As war continued to vacillate between the two possible victors, Cayugas could be found on both sides, hoping to be found in a negotiating position for land and peace when the conflict was over.
Following the Revolutionary War, in 1779, General George Washington commissioned General John Sullivan and James Clinton to destroy the Cayugas and other members of the Haudenosaunee. These two generals led 6,200 troops into many villages and crop fields of the Cayugas and the Haudenosaunee to destroy them. There was no complete victory over the Haudenosaunee, because many tribal members and bands of each tribe were scattered (to Ohio, Canada, and Buffalo Creek). Cayugas that relocated to Ohio were later moved to a territory now called Oklahoma. Cayugas that relocated to Canada now reside on the Grand River Reservation at Six Nations. The Cayugas that remained on native land negotiated with the first President of the United States of America.
On November 11th, 1794, the Cayuga Nation, along with the other members of the Six Nations (or Haudenosaunee), signed the Treaty of Canandaigua that established peace between the United States and the Haudenosaunee. The treaty established peace for needs of the United States, but it also provided sovereignty for each Haudenosaunee Nation within its lands. It established explicit federal powers of the United States over the state of New York. It grandfathered previous treaties made between the state of New York and Haudenosaunee Nations, but also established jurisdiction over the state of New York as it pertained to Indian affairs and transactions. This treaty remains in full force today.
Over a series of illegal land transactions and treaties, New York State has taken all the lands of the Cayuga Nation. In accordance with the Treaty of Canandaigua and the Constitution of the United States of America, the State of New York neglected to seek federal approval for these land transactions and claimed powers of the state in Indian Affairs, of which they have none. As a result, the State of New York still claims the Cayuga Nation has no reservation and will not permit the Cayuga Nation free use and enjoyment of a treaty-established reservation. The Cayuga Nation continues to fight for its treaty rights and will continue to seek to have those rights upheld by the State of New York and the United States of America.