Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - For more than three centuries, Niagara Square has been the name of the iconic Downtown Buffalo landmark that sits just across from City Hall.
In fact, the square predates Buffalo City Hall by more than a century.
But if the Seneca Nation of Indians has its way, Niagara Square will be rebranded as Seneca Circle in a nod to its ancestral and aboriginal history.
"It is to recognize and honor our ancestors," said J.C. Seneca, Seneca Nation of Indians president.
Seneca has authored a resolution and executive order - approved by Seneca Nation Council members - to have Niagara Square changed to Seneca Circle.
"It's long overdue," said Odie Porter, Seneca Council member.
The proposed Seneca Circle name change s the latest chapter and salvo between the Seneca Nation and Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan - along with other city leaders - that centers on a $10 million gas station complex being developed by the Seneca Nation on sovereign territory just off of Ohio Street.
Ryan wants construction stopped, and alleges that the 3.5-acre triangular parcel that runs between Ohio, Miami and Chicago streets is not sovereign territory.
The Senecas have documentation from the federal Department of Interior that backs their claim the land is sovereign and not subject to any Buffalo approvals.
Seneca introduced his proposal late Thursday as members of the Seneca Nation gathered in Niagara Square to back the nation.
"This is our land," Porter said.
Seneca noted virtually all of Buffalo and much of the region is technically Seneca Nation land based the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua where the U.S. government allocated more than 3.8 million acres of land to Indian nation.
Much of that land is in Buffalo and elsewhere in the region, Seneca said.
By 1797, the Treaty of Big Tree, the Seneca Nation was left with barely 200,000 acres and 49,920 of those acres were in Buffalo, which had to be incorporated as a city.
"This our aboriginal land," Porter said.
Seneca says the resolution, which will be submitted to the Buffalo Common Council this month, is based solely on Seneca history and not the gas station dispute.
The sovereign territory issue - which he spent more than one hour addressing during a Thursday afternoon press conference - is totally separate.
Combined the two back-to-back Seneca generated events were watershed moments as the Indian nation responds to allegations and legal threats issued by Ryan.
"We need to set the record straight," Seneca said "The (gas station) land is under sovereign jurisdiction now and forever.:
Critics contend the gas station, which serves as one of the main gateways into the Old First Ward neighborhood, is a bad fit against the backdrop of restaurants, distilleries and apartment developments that have opened in recent years.
Seneca believes the gas station will be an economic generator for the Seneca Nation and for Buffalo.
Construction on the gas station continues to advance against the backdrop of potential legal action from Buffalo..
"The message is clear," Seneca said. "The Seneca Nation will keep moving forward."
The Seneca Nation of Indians is pushing for a rebranding of the iconic downtown landmark
The Seneca Nation of Indians is pushing for a rebranding of the iconic downtown landmark
