Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

On July 11, a fire destroyed the Newtown Longhouse, Seneca Nation Cattaraugus Territory. The Seneca Nation and community suffered a shocking event with the Longhouse being destroyed by the fire. This is a devastating loss to the Seneca Nation and Haudenosaunee people

A community member stated, "The longhouse did not burn. The building did. It is said that the sky is the ceiling, the earth is the floor, and the four directions are the walls. The longhouse lives in each of the people of the longhouse. As long as you have your voice, the longhouse fire burns inside each and every one of you."

The Longhouse is the spiritual home for Seneca people, a place where language, traditions, and lifeways are sustained across generations. The Seneca Nation immediately set forth plans and actions to rebuild their Longhouse.

The Newtown Longhouse as it stood before the devasting fire.

From a Facebook post, "The Longhouse is more than a building, it is the heart of our spiritual community. It is where all generations – from Elders to young children – would gather to hear the Good Words and to carry out the ceremonies that sustain our culture, language, and spiritual being. In doing so, it ensures that our customs and traditions remain vital and vibrant today and for generations to come. While devastated by the loss of the Newtown Longhouse, the Senecas are a resilient people. With the same resilient spirit that has seen us through unimaginable challenges throughout history, the Seneca community is determined to rebuild. Together as one community, we can help rebuild this vital cornerstone of the community. Please consider donating to our rebuilding fund. Nyawëh/thank you.

A "GoFundMe" page has been set up to accept monetary donations.

Donate here: gofundme.com/f/rebuild-the-newtown-longhouse