During their four-week English language immersion and intercultural program at Fredonia in August, a small group of students and faculty from Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences were introduced to the Seneca Nation of Indians and its culture.
The day-long excursion to Salamanca and the Seneca Allegany territory – combined with other events and activities coordinated by Eric Skowronski, director of Lifelong Learning and Special Programs – also demonstrated the breadth of Fredonia’s many collaborations within the Chautauqua-Allegany region.
Teresa Van Aernam, CSTEP director at Fredonia, helped organize the Seneca Nation visit on Aug. 21 to showcase its history and culture within the context of a local economy that continues to evolve.
The visitors learned about Salamanca’s origin and railroad heritage at the Salamanca Area Historical Museum, were introduced to the sport of lacrosse and traditional storytelling and also treated to a Ruppet Show performance of “Long Nose” at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, and toured WGWE-FM, 105.9, a classic hits radio station owned and operated by the Seneca Nation of Indians.
How the Seneca Nation’s economic status has changed was depicted with a tour of the Seneca-Allegany Casino, a major economic engine of the region. The six Japanese students and four faculty members ate lunch at the Thunder Mountain Buffet and received a mini Seneca language lesson.
Also on the itinerary were visits to the Allegany Education Department, Allegany Community Center and Early Childhood Learning Center, where they were impressed with the work being done on behalf of young children.
“Our friends were pleased to see how our tribe promotes language and traditional values within the community, while living in a modern environment,” Ms. Aernam said.
“It is always a pleasure to showcase the Seneca Nation to our international friends. They leave with sincere appreciation of Seneca culture and history and how aspects of them might parallel their own,” Aernam explained. “Moreover, they and we are always humbled and thankful for the outpouring of hospitality by everyone involved.”
