TUSCARORA ENVIRONMENT

Curriculum Feedback Needed

April 9, 2010 - The HETF and the Tuscarora Environment Office are developing a Haudenosaunee Environmental Education Curriculum. To better understand our different Haudenosaunee communities' needs we have developed a short survey. Please take only a few minutes and fill out the questionaire. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Click HERE to go to the survey.

Students Volunteer at Picnic Grove

April 2, 2010 - On Thursday, April 1st, students from Kent State University visited Tuscarora for a day-long service project. They donated their time and energy to help us with our Picnic Grove by raking and maintaining the grounds, and painting the new bridge.

They were in the Buffalo/Niagara area for a week during their college spring break. Nya:we to them for sharing their time with us and we appreciate it. If you want to see more pictures please check out our photo album on our Tuscarora Environment Facebook page.

Scholarship Available via TEP

March 31, 2010 - A 4-day Basic Photovoltaic Installer Course will be held in Syracuse, from April 12-15, 2010 as part of SUNY SPARE (State University of New York Solar Power as Renewable Energy). The training will be at Onondaga Community College from 9:00am - 5:00pm each day.

The basic SPARE course costs $495.00 and covers the basics of how to site, design and install photovoltaic (PV) systems. Participants will build a working PV system. This course can be applied toward the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) prerequisites. For NABCEP certification requirements, please visit www.nabcep.org.

There is a discount for Haudenosaunee participants, type "sparenation" for the discount code. To register, go to the SUNY-ESF website HERE.

The Tuscarora Environment Office is offering a complete scholarship to any interested Tuscarora. The scholarship will cover all costs including tuition, lodging, travel, and per diem. We only have a very limited number of scholarships so please apply early. If you want more information, and to see if you qualify, please contact Neil Patterson Jr. at the TEP office as soon as possible.

Above: photo from www.colostate.edu

CSA Applications Now Available

March 22, 2010 - It's that time of year again! Tuscarora Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) garden applications are now available.

To become a shareholder you need to fill out the CSA application available for download or if needed, contact Patti Fischer at the TEP office and she can help to get you an application.

If you apply before April 15th you can receive the early bird special and save up to $15. For more information about the Tuscarora CSA please check out the TCSA page HERE.

Walking to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

March 19, 2010 - A demonstration march came through Tuscarora Wednesday night, titled A Walk for a Nuclear-Free Future 2010: Northern Route. There were about 25 people who arrived at the Old Gym including Japanese Monks, Haudenosaunee supporters, local WNY residents, and eventually, a small Tuscarora following.

The walk was initiated by the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order to call attention to the United Nation's review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to abolish all nuclear weapons and end nuclear power.  There were presentations on the environment given by the walkers and the community following a potluck dinner, including the premiere of a film about local Haudenosaunee Boarding Schools.

The walkers spent the night in the Old Gym and left the next morning to continue walking to Lockport.  They will arrive at the United Nations in New York City in early May, visiting many Six Nations territories in New York State while on their way.

They welcome walkers to join them for a hour, a day, or for the entire journey. You can read about their trip at http://www.dharmawalk.org/  Their contact person is Jules Orkin, 518.566.8403 or email julesorkin@yahoo.com.

Tuscarora Letter to NYS Governor

February 25, 2010 - In December 2009 The Tuscarora Nation Council of Chiefs and Clanmothers sent a letter to NYS Governor David Paterson about Hydraulic Fracturing.

The letter urges New York to ban the practice, also known as Hydrofracking, because of its devastating impacts on our environment and human health. The effects of this drilling is immediately felt by surrounding communities. They have to live with constant noise, odor of natural gas in the air, and clean water trucked into their community to drink.

Similiar letters have been sent by other Haudenosaunee Nations as well, including the Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force (HETF). You can read the letter from Tuscarora HERE [.pdf file. It will require Adobe Acrobat reader.]. You can read more about the HETF's position on Hydrofracking at their site, www.hetf.org.

Above: photo from www.bethlehemforpeace.org.

HEYC Winter Experience 2010

February 24, 2010 - The Haudenosaunee Environmental Youth Corps (HEYC) finished another successful trip to the Adirondacks this year. The trip was made possible from the Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force (HETF) and SUNY - College of Environment and Forestry.

Ten lucky Haudenosaunee students enjoyed a week-long adventure in the Adirondacks, while staying at the Huntington Station campus, in Newcomb, NY. The students (and five chaperones) went ice fishing, snow-shoeing, a long hike up Mount Goodnow, enjoyed winter ecology lessons, presentations from Bob Stevenson, trip to the Adirondack Wild Center, and much more.

Check back for more details about the trip, and the picture gallery of the HEYC Winter Experience 2010.