In a hands-on tribute to Earth Day, the Cayuga Nation brought its commitment to environmental care to life with a community cleanup at the Seneca Falls Historical Society.
On April 22, about 15 staff members from the Nation and its enterprises gathered to restore the grounds of the historic site. They filled 80 large lawn bags with leaves, pruned shrubs, weeded flower beds, and edged the sidewalks, transforming the landscape around one of the region’s cultural landmarks.
Three volunteers from the Seneca Falls United Way joined the effort, strengthening the collaboration between local groups with a shared focus on preserving the environment and fostering unity.
“Our connection to the land is sacred and deeply rooted in our identity,” said Cayuga Nation Federal Representative Clint Halftown. “Earth Day is not just a symbolic occasion for us—it’s an extension of our traditional values. We care for the land because it is a living relative, and because our future depends on its health and balance.”
The Nation’s choice of location highlights its ties to regional heritage. By partnering with the Historical Society and engaging with other civic groups, the Cayuga Nation emphasized its role in upholding both environmental and community stewardship.
The effort reflects the Nation’s broader goals of honoring its Haudenosaunee heritage and advancing regional collaboration. “Land stewardship is more than conservation—it’s a responsibility,” Halftown said. “We’re proud to invest in the well-being of our shared environment and to work alongside our neighbors to preserve it for generations to come.”
The Earth Day initiative is part of the Cayuga Nation’s ongoing environmental work, which includes advocating for the return of ancestral lands.
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