SALAMANCA, N.Y. (WBEN).....It was just a little past 11 am. yesterday when history was made inside the Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino's event center.
That's why Tina Abrams was sworn in as president of the 8,500- member Seneca Nation of Indians - marking the first time in its 138 year electoral l history that a female took over as the Indian nation's chief executive officer.
Not only that when Lenith Waterwman was sworn in as treasurer and Bethany Johnson was inaugurated as clerk - it marked the rare instance when an Indian nation's top three elected positions are being held by femals.
All three were sworn in as part of the Seneca Nation's annual Canvass Day.
Each will serve a two-year term, as per Seneca Nation bylaws.
"It took nearly 140 years, but we are finally here," Abrams said. "We can not let the history we make today (Nov. 10 Canvass Day) and the weight of the moment define us."
But, for Abrams there is another layer to her historical moment.
That she was elected was a nod to work her grandfather, Morris Jimerson, and father, Walden Jimerson, did with Seneca Nation Council in 1964. That's when they were part of a contingent of Seneca leaders who passed a resolution allowing females to vote.
The first female vote took place in the Seneca's 1966 elections.
Among the first females to be elected to Seneca National Council in 1966, Abrams' grandmother, Sybil Eeis.
"I worked very hard to get to this point," Abrams said.
Abrams first joined the Seneca Nation Council in 2001 and 2012 was the council's legislative body co-chairperson.
By her own count, Abrams has served under 10 Seneca Nation presidents.
"My personal journey, to this moment in time, has been prepared by so many who came before me," Abrams said.
The Seneca Nation is a major Western New York regional force.
Between its own operations and those of the Seneca Gaming Corp., it employs slightly more than 8,000 people and has a regional yearly economic impact of more than $2 billion, with its employees and operations paying more than $366 million annually in government taxes and payments.
"I know there are significant challenges ahead of us," Abrams said. "We have to deal with hostile governments who want to take from us, but they don't want to deal fairly with us."
Abrams' family helped let Seneca women vote and now she leads the region's largest Indian nation
Abrams' family helped let Seneca women vote and now she leads the region's largest Indian nation
