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For other uses, see Seneca . The Seneca are a Native American people, one of the Six Nations of the Iroquois League . About 10,000 Seneca Indians live in the United States and Canada , primarily on Reservation s in western New York state, with others living in Oklahoma and near Brantford, Ontario . HISTORY The Seneca, or "Onodowohgah" ("People of the Hill Top"), traditionally lived in what is now New York between the Genesee River and Canandaigua Lake . With the prehistoric formation of the Iroquois Confederation, the Seneca became known the "Keepers of the Western Door" because they were located on the western edge of the Iroquois domain. The Senecas were by far the largest of the Iroquois nations. Catholic and French-oriented parts of the tribe were known as ''Mingos''. Traditionally, the Economy was based on cultivation of Corn , Bean s, and Squash (the three sisters), primarily by the women, and Hunting and Fishing by the men. During the Colonial period they became involved in the Fur Trade , first with the Dutch and then with the British . This served to increase hostility with other native groups, especially their traditional enemy, the Huron , an Iroquoian tribe in New France near Lake Simcoe . During the 17th Century , attacks on Huron villages caused the destruction and dispersal of the Huron. Captives who were not Torture d to death were Adopt ed into the Tribe . During the American Revolution , the Seneca along with their immediate neighbor in the League, the Cayuga , carried out many raids on American Settlement s and Stronghold s, instigated by the British at Fort Niagara . These raids were reduced after the Clinton and Sullivan Expedition destroyed many Cayuga villages. Divisions in the League from mixed loyalties of its members to the British or Americans weakened its power. On November 11 , 1794 , the Seneca (along with the other Haudenosaunee nations) signed the Treaty Of Canandaigua with the United States. The Seneca, like other League members, were known as the People of the Long House. They lived in Village s, often surrounded by Palisade s due to Warfare , which moved every ten or fifteen years as Soil and Game were depleted. During the 19th Century they adopted many of the Custom s of their white neighbors, building Log Cabin s and participating in the local Agricultural Economy . Notable Senecas in history include Red Jacket , Cornplanter , Guyasuta , Handsome Lake , and Ely S. Parker . TODAY The Seneca formed a modern called Seneca Niagara and the other on their own territory in the city of Salamanca called ''Seneca Allegany''. A third is in the works and will be located on purchased land in downtown Buffalo adjacent to the HSBC Arena to be entitled the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino . Other Senecas are employed in the local economy of the region. One of the most significant features of the Seneca Nation of Indians is their ability to sell tax-free and New York State Route 17 (the future Interstate 86 ). Recently, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has made moves to attempt to cut off Internet cigarette sales, including negotiating deals with credit-card companies and delivery services to not handle cigarette purchases to consumers. Another attempt at collecting taxes on gasoline and cigarettes sold to non-Indians is set to begin March 1, 2006; it has been tabled, much to the chagrin of Spitzer and the state legislature, by the state Department of Taxation and Finance. About 7200 enrolled members live on three reservations in New York: the Allegany (which contains the city of Salamanca ), the Cattaraugus near Gowanda, New York , and the Oil Springs , near Cuba, New York . Few, if any, Seneca reside at Oil Springs, geographically the smallest of the reservations. An independent group live on the Tonawanda Reservation near Akron, New York . Other Seneca live in association with the Cayuga in Miami, Oklahoma or on the Six Nations Of The Grand River reserves near Brantford, Ontario , Canada . There are currently pending three lawsuits challenging various aspects of the Compact with the State of New York under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. One group Citizens For A Better Buffalo has commenced two of the actions, one in state court and the other in federal court. The other lawsuit was commenced in federal court by Daniel T. Warren of Upstate Citizens For Equality . SEE ALSO FURTHER READING
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