Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) Sovereignty & Rematriation

A fundraising campaign for Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) Nation
Donations are ClosedFundraising is Closed

Nya:węh swagwé:gǫh,


We will always be grateful to the thousands of relatives and friends who have supported us through this fundraiser and in so many other ways- including saving the Cayuga SHARE Farm and supporting the traditional community near Cayuga Lake with mutual aid and direct action.

Fundraising efforts are now focused on the new Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) Legal Defense Fund, which uses the Givebutter fundraising platform and is still hosted by Tiny Seed Project, Inc. Learn more at:

www.givebutter.com/gayogohono

Thank you for your support. Your generosity and kindness will not be forgotten.

Nya:węh go:wah,
Council of Chiefs and Clan Mothers


www.gayogohono.org




This fundraiser’s fiscal sponsor is Tiny Seed Project. Tiny Seed is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. Your donation to support Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) rematriation and sovereignty efforts is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.



A final thank-you to all our supporters!

January 30, 2024

Nya:węh swagwé:gǫh


The generosity of 477 donors has raised $117,360 in online and offline donations through this fundraiser, surpassing the fundraising goal by more than $37,000! Your donations support the Clan Mothers and Council of Chiefs to help the traditional Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ community continue their rematriation efforts and the struggle to defend Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ sovereignty. Your kindness will be remembered.

This fundraiser's fiscal sponsor is no longer inviting donations through GiveGab. Please consider supporting the traditional community with a tax-deductible donation to the new Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) Legal Defense Fund at www.givebutter.com/gayogohono.

The new fundraiser exists for only one purpose: to provide legal aid for the Council of Chiefs and Clan Mothers to file a motion in US Federal Court. This is necessary to accomplish our goal of changing the US Bureau of Indian Affairs' illegal selection of "Federal Representative" for the Cayuga Nation.

The Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ Legal Defense Fund's charitable purposes are to protect cultural freedom and educational development, including revitalization of our language, food, and community security for the families who have returned to the original territory.  

Nya:węh for your generosity.



Visit www.gayogohono.org to stay informed. 

Givebutter accepts international and recurring donations online.

To send your donation by mail:

write your check to “Tiny Seed Project, Inc.”

with the memo line "Gayogohono (Cayuga)”

and mail to

Gayogohono (Cayuga) Legal Defense Fund

C/O Tiny Seed Project, Inc.

154 Silver Road

East Hardwick, VT 05836

  
You are invited to a fundraiser gathering to celebrate Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ and Haudenosaunee culture and history on Sunday, February 4th, from 2:30-5:30 pm at the Foundation of Light, 391 Turkey Hill Rd. Ithaca, NY. More information is on the Facebook event page: https://fb.me/e/1oq5ifubL
 

The Gayogohó:nǫ˺ (Cayuga) Legal Defense Fund is fiscally sponsored by Tiny Seed Project Inc. 501(c)3. Your donation is tax-deductible. Tiny Seed Project is a women-founded, Vermont-based fiscal sponsorship nonprofit organization. We empower people and projects working with food sovereignty, regenerative farming, racial equity, habitat restoration, arts and culture, and Indigenous knowledge. We provide nonprofit status and administrative services for conservation and community-focused projects that align with our mission. This support allows groups to receive tax-deductible donations and grant funding for their work without having to incorporate and attain their own 501 (c)(3). Tiny Seed Project’s unique business model embodies our core values. Conservation. Creativity. Community. We strive to provide solid and transparent background support so more of each dollar donated is put on the ground helping people and the environment.

From tiny seeds grow strong trees!
 

Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day to all our supporters!

October 9, 2023

On this Indigenous Peoples' Day, The Gayogohó:nǫ˺ (Cayuga) Council of Chiefs thanks all the supporters of the traditional

community. Thousands of people internationally have given their energy, labor, and resources to defend the sovereignty and human rights of the Gayogohó:nǫ˺ People and recognize the leadership of the Council of Chiefs and Clan Mothers.


The traditional community remains in their homeland and still faces harassment from Clint Halftown and his illegitimate Cayuga Nation government. Clint Halftown was illegitimately established as the leader by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and continues his efforts to consolidate power and wealth and push out traditional people. The “Cayuga Nation of Indians” and associated businesses and mercenary, non-Indigenous “police” force have engaged in many ongoing acts of hostility and violence, including demolishing homes and the traditional schoolhouse, bulldozing the traditional gardens, using physical force against elders and children and holding families at gunpoint, keeping vulnerable citizens hostage without providing medical care for their life-threatening conditions, and using banishment threats against citizens through an unjust tribal court.


Visit www.gayogohono.org for more information.

Two brief updates for our friends and relatives!

August 18, 2022

Message from Gayogohó:nǫ chiefs and legal team: On Wednesday, August 3, 2022, Clint Halftown’s Council ordered the violent demolition of a Gayogohó:nǫ citizen’s home in Seneca County NY, as well as a barn that has been used as a gathering place for ceremonies. In the process, those enacting Halftown’s orders desecrated white corn that had just last week been rematriated to Gayogohó:nǫ, dumping it onto the ground in an act of cultural violence. Halftown’s campaign against the traditional community on Gayogohó:nǫ traditional territory is ongoing, and enabled by the US Bureau of Indian Affairs, who continue to acknowledge him as the federally recognized “Nation representative” for the Cayuga Nation. The Gayogohó:nǫ Council of Chiefs and Clan Mothers (the governing body of the Nation as recognized by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and according to the Great Law of Peace) have formally stated that they do not recognize him as such. The longer he is supported by the BIA, the longer he will be given resources to continue consolidating power and attacking the culture and community of the traditional Gayogohó:nǫ˺ people. The struggle is not over, as Halftown’s “police force” continue to intimidate the Gayogohó:nǫ˺ community. Update from HalftownMustGo organizers and Gayogohó:nǫ citizens: The community on the ground is still recovering from the bulldozing on Wednesday, August 3rd in Varick. Gayogohó:nǫ people and their friends are still present on the land that was targeted in the bulldozing and are setting up systems for people to safely stay there, given that Halftown’s mercenary Cayuga Nation Police (CNP) made the house unusable and the wreckage contains asbestos. CNP continue to surveil Gayogohó:nǫ homes on a daily basis using intimidation tactics like low-flying drones, filming, and driving by with floodlights on those homes in the night. From all available information, there is uncertainty as to if and when future demolitions, evictions, or arrests may be planned at this time. Networks of folks across the Two Row Wampum are organizing to prevent and mitigate as many of those potential escalations as we can. There has been a tremendous outpouring of local support. Food, safety supplies, hygiene items, and art supplies are being donated. Friends from throughout the region and various Indigenous nations have been on the ground to cook food, keep watch at people’s homes, etc. HMG is helping with numerous needs including diaper deliveries, dish-washing, overnight watch, ordering yard signs, strengthening our media and volunteer vetting processes, and recruiting legal observers and medics to come to the front lines. A few folks who have been on the front lines at points of resistance like Line 3 and Winnemuca have visited and are advising us on how to prepare our frontline systems for the long haul. If you are a US citizen, please sign the #HalftownMustGo petition on action network.




Gayogo̱hónǫʼ (Cayuga) Statement on Halftown Destruction 8-3-22

August 11, 2022

The body of the statement/new release is below, and has also been circulated to media outlets-

here is a link to the news release in Indian Country Today:


       On the evening of Wednesday August 3, after the demolition of another Cayuga-held property nearby, at

least 20 armed members of the non-Native “Cayuga Nation Police” targeted a farmhouse at the direction of 

Clint Halftown and the Halftown Council. This house was the home of Wanda John, a Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' (Cayuga)

elder.


       The armed mercenaries entered without a warrant and hauled Ms. John out of her home so violently that

they injured her. Once outside, the mercenaries threw her to the ground, stepped on her head, and then

zip-tied her wrists together and placed her in a vehicle. The mercenaries forced Ms. John to watch their

destruction of her home: a Halftown Enterprises pay loader demolished all 4 corners of the house, destroying

its structure and rendering it uninhabitable. They also destroyed a barn on the property used by the traditional

Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' community and citizens to gather for their ceremonies, and a garden shed. Ms. John’s injuries

required emergency medical attention.


       Contemporaneous with the demolition of Ms. John’s home, Halftown’s mercenaries attacked another

Indigenous woman (who is a Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' descendant) with “bear spray,” an extremely potent capsaicin-

based weapon. When she arrived at the emergency room, the medical staff did not have knowledge of

effective treatment for capsaicin-related injuries, which prolonged her needless suffering,


       The Halftown Council immediately issued a press release, rife with falsehoods, to put their own spin on

these awful actions. For example, Halftown’s news release claims that the Varick house was unoccupied,

“dilapidated,” and “an eyesore and an unsafe uninhabitable property”. In fact, the Halftown Council has known

for years that Ms. John and several other Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' citizens were living at the Varick house, that traditional

ceremonies were held on the property, and that the house was in good condition- even the Seneca County

attorney, who was on-site during these events, stated that the house “was in good condition” before the

Halftown Council directed its destruction.


       Halftown’s news release also notes that they “ensur[ed] that the residence was unoccupied” prior to its

destruction. This manipulative phrasing avoids the truth: that they violently removed the elder resident before

destroying her home. In reality, the Halftown Council cared so little about safety and security that they did not

even disconnect the electricity or propane lines to the Varick house prior to its haphazard destruction. This

placed all present at risk and required county officials to handle these additional safety violations.  


       Unfortunately, these events are just the latest in ongoing violent demolitions targeting the traditional

community and its citizens, all of which were undertaken at the behest of Clint Halftown and the Halftown

Council. In 2016, the United States’ Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) improperly appointed Mr. Halftown as the 

“federal representative” of the Cayuga Nation, overthrowing the centuries-old traditional governance system

of Chiefs and Clan Mothers.


       The Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' Chiefs have informed the BIA numerous times over the past decade-plus that Clint

Halftown and the Halftown Council have been properly removed from any and all leadership positions

(pursuant to their centuries-old dispute resolution mechanisms), including during the time prior to Mr.

Halftown’s recognition as the federal representative. The chiefs have repeatedly and publicly stated that

Mr. Halftown and the Halftown Council have no authority to communicate or interact with the United States

on behalf of the Cayuga Nation. Nevertheless, the BIA continues to stand idle while these attacks on 

Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' people persist.


       The traditional Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' community and citizens in Seneca County are extremely concerned that

these demolitions are just the beginning of yet another campaign of destruction ordered by Clint Halftown,

and that their homes and families are likely to be targeted and attacked next.


 

Donations are still needed! In addition, please sign HalftownMustGo's petition if you are a US citizen.

Thank you for your continued support- please share this information widely with your circles.



~Donate here through GiveGab~
(International donations are accepted!)


Follow, like, and share posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Visit the Gayogohó:nǫ˺ website!

This fundraiser’s fiscal sponsor is Tiny Seed Project. Tiny Seed is a 501c3

not for profit organization. Your donation to support Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ rematriation

and sovereignty is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.


Attachments area

Urgent News: Gayogo̱hónǫʼ (Cayuga) Community Attacked Again- Support Needed

August 4, 2022

Dear friends of the Gayogo̱hónǫʼ (Cayuga) People,

On Wednesday, August 3rd, Clint Halftown ordered another attack against a traditional community member. Armed, non-Native mercenary "police" injured her and another Native woman, as well as destroying a classic farmhouse and a barn, where people have been gathering for community development and ceremonies. This attack is only the most recent of numerous acts of violence perpetrated by Clint Halftown's "Cayuga Nation" Enterprises against his own people.

Please wait for a news release coming soon. If you are a US citizen, we urge you to contact Schumer's DC office: 202-224-6542 and Gillibrand's DC office: 202-224-4451, requesting that they honor the official rejection of Halftown as the Bureau of Indian Affairs Cayuga "tribal representative" by the traditional government of chiefs and clan mothers.

Your support has raised 33% of the needed funds! Thank you for your generosity and allyship. Please continue to share this information.





Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ Sovereignty and Rematriation update- 26% to the fundraising goal!

February 4, 2022

Dear friends,


Thank you for your generosity in supporting the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) traditional people. Since May 2021, you have given over $20,000 to assist the traditional community in continuing their rematriation efforts. Given that there is still a legal team fighting to keep familes in their homes through this winter, the fundraising need has increased to $80,000. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Tribal Representative Clint Halftown and his employees continue to harass the traditional people and threaten eviction. To learn more, visit gayogohono.org.


International donations are accepted!

The HalftownMustGo campaign is organizing public pressure and calling on the BIA to honor Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ sovereignty and recognize the traditional and rightful governing authority of clan mothers and chiefs. The movement is growing, with New York state residents, town boards, and activist groups denouncing the aggressions against the traditional people perpetrated by the BIA-recognized Nation representative, Clint Halftown. The aim of HalftownMustGo is for the BIA to cease violating the principles of the Two Row Wampum Treaty by ending its recognition of Halftown, so that traditional Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ people can live and carry their values and governance into the future without danger of being attacked. Click here to sign their petition to the BIA, if you are a US citizen, to help reach and surpass the goal of 800 signatures.


                                                       

This fundraiser’s fiscal sponsor is Tiny Seed Project. Tiny Seed is a 501c3

not for profit organization. Your donation to support Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ rematriation

and sovereignty is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.


Follow, like, and share posts from Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ Sovereignty and Rematriation
on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

One week in update- and an important message from Gayogohó:no' (Cayuga Nation) Council of Chiefs

May 26, 2021

Good morning! We have reached 4% of our goal in just one week! Your support has raised $2,229 for the traditional Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ community. We still have a long way to go, so please share this information widely! Thank you for your support and allyship. 

~Donate here through GiveGab~

 

Follow and promote the campaign on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok



PLEASE CONTINUE READING below-
A letter from Gayogohó:no' traditional leadership:


Gayogohó:no' 

Cayuga Nation Council of Chiefs 


PO Box 433 

Union Springs, New York 

13160 


May 15, 2021 


The Cayuga Nation Council of Chiefs, Clanmothers, Faithkeepers, men, women, and children send greetings and are hopeful this letter finds you and your family in good health and spirits in these unprecedented times. 

We would like to bring to your attention a threat that is happening to the traditional Cayuga citizens in the traditional territory of the Cayuga Nation. These residences are in Seneca County, New York, which lies within the traditional territory of the Cayuga Nation. 

In the early morning hours of February 22, 2020, the traditional Cayuga citizens living on the traditional territory awoke to the destruction of their schoolhouse/longhouse along with several residential homes and businesses. This act of violence and destruction was ordered by Clint Halftown. 

The traditional Cayuga citizens living on the homeland are currently facing another crisis. This crisis is in the form of evictions from their residence by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Federal representative Clint Halftown. In the middle of a global pandemic Clint Halftown has issued eviction notices and court dates to the traditional Cayuga citizens. The Cayuga Nation citizens, Chiefs and Clanmothers consider the court established by Halftown as illegitimate. They are also experiencing daily harassment by an equally illegitimate non-Cayuga police force. How is it that a non-Cayuga citizen attempts to physically remove a Cayuga citizen from their traditional territory? 

The Bureau of Indian Affairs recognizes a group led by Federal representative Clint Halftown. Clint Halftown has failed as a Federal representative to the traditional Cayuga citizens. Clint Halftown continues to bring harm, anxiety, and stress to the traditional Cayuga citizens in an already stressful year. 

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has endorsed Clint Halftown as the Federal Representative and his illegitimate government and now they must remove him before he creates more devastation or death to the traditional Cayuga citizens or harm to innocent American citizens. 

The Cayuga Nation Council of Chiefs also state that we do not support Clint Halftown his government or his actions and to cease and desist from using the collective rights of the Cayuga Nation. 

The traditional Cayuga Nation Chiefs reference Article VII of the 1794 Canandaigua Treaty which states, "... complaint shall be made by the party injured, to the other: by the Six Nations or any of them, to the President of the United States." 

The Cayuga Nation Council of Chiefs asks you as leadership within the United States of American to pressure the President or the Bureau of Indian Affairs to seek the immediate removal of Clint Halftown and his government. 

Therefore, we implore upon you to urge your elected representatives to encourage the President to meet with the traditional Cayuga Nation Chiefs to resolve this issue immediately before more violence occurs. 

We would also like to acknowledge and thank our allies that are currently camping at locations of some of the traditional Cayuga citizens. 

Due to the ongoing pandemic the traditional Cayuga Nation Council has been holding virtual meetings. In consultation with the below listed Cayuga Chiefs, it has been determined that Shoyq:we:s and Deskaheh will sign on behalf of the traditional Cayuga Council of Chiefs. 


In peace and friendship, 

Cayuga Nation Council of Chiefs 


Steve Maracle 

Gaji’nǫdáwe̱heh 


Andy Warner 

Gadagwá:sę’


Blake Bomberry 

Hagya’dro̱hne’ 


Roger Silversmith 

Deyohǫwé:tǫ:’


William C. Jacobs 

Hadǫdá:heha" 


Samuel George 

Shoyǫ:we:s 


Steven E. Jacobs 

Deskaheh


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