The SHARE Farm helps support the future of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) Nation's sovereignty and rematriation
Due to the incredible support of so many of you, the traditional Gayogohó:nǫ˺ leadership of Chiefs and Clan Mothers secured legal ownership of the Cayuga SHARE Farm. We cannot thank you enough. This type of healing cooperation carries on the spirit of the farm as we work together for a better future. We also want to take space to thank Groundswell Center for their sponsorship of the fundraiser to save the Cayuga SHARE Farm.We have established new relationships, many friends, and allies during their ongoing endeavor to return to their homeland and not be forced out again. Your generosity and kindness will not be forgotten.
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This is a wonderful thing for our people. It gives us a base and a place to call home where we can reestablish ourselves as Cayuga people.
– Chief William Jacobs
(Traditional Gayogohó:nǫ˺ Chief)
The return of land “is an historic moment for the Cayuga people and all of the Haudenosaunee."
– Joe Heath
(Legal Counsel to Traditional Gayogohó:nǫ˺ Chiefs and Clan Mothers)
Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) Nation and the Cayuga SHARE Farm
The SHARE Farm is an important gathering place and cultural site intended as a place of healing, connection, and nourishment for the Gayogohó:nǫ˺ (Cayuga) people living in our unceded lands near Cayuga Lake, and all people of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) Nation and Sovereignty
New York State and the US Bureau of Indian Affairs do not respect Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) Nation sovereignty and our right to self-determination as an Indigenous People. Their inaction interferes with our People's rematriation efforts.A community of our Nation's traditional citizens lives near Cayuga Lake in a “reservation area” defined in the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua, and use legal means to defend Indigenous responsibilities and rights there. Our People continue to struggle for fulfillment of treaty obligations, and the security of cultural and governmental freedom.
Thank you for your support of the Gayogohó:nǫ˺. Your generosity has ensure that our people can continue rematriation efforts in our unceded lands.
About the Cayuga
SHARE Farm
The farm’s 70 acres of land (compare this to the estimated 1.9 million acres that is the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ homeland- defined by Owasco Lake to the east, Lake Ontario to the north, Keuka Lake to the west and into what is currently Pennsylvania state to the south), rematriated in 2005, marks a historic land return event in the face of Cayuga Nation’s denied land claim the same year.This rematriation was possible due to the monetary and organizing efforts of the SHARE (Strengthening Haudenosaunee-American Relations through Education) group. Bernadette “Birdie” Hill, Cayuga Heron Clan Mother, now passed, gave encouragement and inspiration to the members of SHARE.Birdie told stories of her people thriving before George Washington ordered General Sullivan to burn entire communities, hundreds of acres of orchards and crops and to drive out the people during the Revolutionary War. The Cayuga SHARE Farm is near to the site of Goyogouen (Cayuga Castle, the largest Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ community) and Great Gully, a sacred place of refuge for the Haudenosaunee. The farm became an important place of healing for Haudenosaunee and Americans, and important for cultural and community connections with annual peach tree plantings in the orchard and big picnics during the strawberry moon (June). This farm, on Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ land, is an opportunity to rematriate seeds and give food to the Ǫgwehǫ:weh (native people) in their native soil.
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