Welcome to the Cayuga Nation's official website. The Cayuga Nation is a member of the Haudenosaunee, an alliance of Native Nations that reside in the state of New York. The Nations making up this confederacy are the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and the Tuscarora. The people of the Cayuga Nation have called the land surrounding Cayuga Lake their homeland for hundreds of years. Cayuga land lays between that of the Seneca Nation to the west and the Onondaga Nation to the east. Archeologists have found evidence of Cayuga settlements in many areas surrounding the lake, including the present day villages of Union Springs, Aurora, Cayuga, Seneca Falls, Ithaca, and Canoga.
In the 12th century, the Cayuga Nation, along with the Seneca, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk Nations united under the Great Law of Peace to form the Haudenosaunee (People of the Longhouse) Confederacy in order to end inter-tribal fighting and bring a sustainable peace to the land. This structure of government and its constitution influenced the creation of many modern day constitutions. The Cayuga Nation is made up of five clans, signifying family lineage. A Cayuga citizen’s clan is determined by the clan of their mother. Each is a member of one of the five clans – Bear, Heron, Snipe, Turtle, and Wolf. Each clan has a Clan Mother, whose role is caring for her clan members. Each clan has council representatives who form the decision-making body of the Nation.
All was stable in the Cayuga Nation until the Revolutionary War. Although the Cayuga Nation remained neutral, it became the target of U.S. military attacks. Cayuga villages were destroyed and its orchards burned during the campaigns of General Sullivan and Colonel Butler. The Cayugas were forced from their homeland and the land was dispersed in parcels to American soldiers. In November of 1794, it appeared the wrongful taking of Cayuga land would be made right. The Treaty of Canandaigua was signed between the Sachems of the Confederacy Nations and the United States of America. This Treaty affirmed the Cayuga Nation’s rightful reservation as 64,015 acres of sovereign land. Unfortunately, the Treaty was ignored by the State of New York and the Cayuga homeland was not returned to its rightful owners. For the next 250 years, the Cayuga Nation pursued its land claim against New York State. In the early 21st century, the Nation took affirmative action and began to reacquire the land by purchasing it.
All was stable in the Cayuga Nation until the Revolutionary War. Although the Cayuga Nation remained neutral, it became the target of U.S. military attacks. Cayuga villages were destroyed and its orchards burned during the campaigns of General Sullivan and Colonel Butler. The Cayugas were forced from their homeland and the land was dispersed in parcels to American soldiers. In November of 1794, it appeared the wrongful taking of Cayuga land would be made right. The Treaty of Canandaigua was signed between the Sachems of the Confederacy Nations and the United States of America. This Treaty affirmed the Cayuga Nation’s rightful reservation as 64,015 acres of sovereign land. Unfortunately, the Treaty was ignored by the State of New York and the Cayuga homeland was not returned to its rightful owners. For the next 250 years, the Cayuga Nation pursued its land claim against New York State. In the early 21st century, the Nation took affirmative action and began to reacquire the land by purchasing it.