A legendary Haudenosaunee matriarch is taking center stage this fall as part of a celebration for one of America’s best-known women’s rights pioneers.
The Seneca Falls Historical Society will honor Queen Catharine Montour during its annual Elizabeth Cady Stanton Luncheon on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m. The event takes place at Simply Homemade in Fayette, with tickets available for $30 per person. Reservations must be made by Oct. 24 by calling (315) 568-8412.
This year’s program brings together author Cynthia G. Neale and knowledge keeper Jaime L. Montour for a joint presentation on the life and legacy of Queen Catharine. Neale, who wrote the historical novel Catharine, Queen of the Tumbling Waters, will speak about the creative process and deep research behind the book. Montour, a direct descendant of Catharine, will share how the novel helped awaken her own family history and identity.
“She was a heroine who led her people to safety at Fort Niagara during the Sullivan Expedition,” the release notes. Catharine Montour lived during the time of the American Revolution, when Haudenosaunee villages were being destroyed. Today, the village of Montour Falls bears her name.
Neale’s book eventually found its way into the hands of Jaime Montour, a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation in Ontario, Canada. Their connection sparked a conversation across generations about memory, storytelling, and survival.
The luncheon includes a brunch meal followed by the presentation. Organizers say the event aims to lift up both the legacy of Stanton and the lesser-known women like Queen Catharine whose stories deserve a larger voice.
For more information, call (315) 568-8412 or email [email protected].
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