George D. Heron (February 22, 1919 – May 26, 2011) was president of the Seneca Nation of Indians (Seneca Nation of New York) from 1958 to 1960 and again from 1962 to 1964. In addition to his cultural and community work, he is known as a leader of the Seneca opposition to Kinzua Dam, and for his work organizing the tribal resettlement.
Two sons, a daughter, two step-sons, and a step-daughter
Parent(s)
Parents, David and Flora Tallchief Heron
Known for
Leading opposition to Kinzua Dam; and organizing resettlement efforts; cultural, community, and political work
Heron was known as a tribal historian, Seneca language linguist, and teacher. He worked extensively with William N. Fenton, an ethnologist who studied and wrote about the Seneca and Iroquois Confederacy. A political progressive, Heron was a member of the New Deal Party, one of the political factions in the nation before the current Seneca Party achieved one-party rule in the 1990s.
Mr. Heron enlisted in the United States Navy in November of 1941 and served until his discharge in 1945. He achieved the rank of pharmacist mate first class during the war and was assigned to the United States Navy Amphibious Forces in campaigns in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific.[2]
During Heron's tenure as President of the Seneca Nation of New York, from 1958 to 1960 and again from 1962 to 1964, tribal members strongly opposed relocation of residents for construction of Kinzua Dam, a federal project proposed for flood control and hydropower generation.[3]
During the early 1960s, Heron had been instrumental in trying to persuade the U.S. government to use the Morgan Plan alternative which would have placed the Kinzua flood control dam in a different location. He made several trips to Washington D.C. and was assured assistance by President John F. Kennedy, but to no avail. Seven hundred members of the Seneca Nation were forced to sacrifice their ancestral homes and 10,000 acres of good-bottom farm land to make way for the Kinzua Dam project. A way of life was permanently destroyed.[4]
Heron led the tribe's relocation efforts,[5] and oversaw construction of two residential communities: Jimersontown and Steamburg. The tribe used compensation received following the "Kinzua Dam condemnation of Coldspring and a third of the reservation."[4]
To us it is more than a contract, more than a symbol; to us the 1794 Treaty is a way of life.[6]
George Heron
He also served as treasurer and councillor for the tribe.[3][7]
Women, who had been denied the right to vote in Seneca elections, were granted suffrage during Heron's second term. Heron supported expanding suffrage as he felt the then-majority view of the Seneca men (who rejected multiple referendums to allow the women to vote) was too conservative and ignorant, which Heron believed harmed the tribe's efforts to negotiate with the outside world.[8]
He was "a member of the Iroquois National Museum Board of Directors, representative to the New York State Department of Aging and leader of the Iroquois Agricultural Society,",[2] on the executive board of the National Congress of American Indians, and an elder of Jimerstown Presbyterian Church.[9] He counted anthropologist William N. Fenton and State Senator Catharine M. Young among his personal friends. "He was employed by the Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers Local #6, Buffalo, New York retiring in 1981."[10]
^Turano, Sharon (Sep 7, 2008). . The Post-Journal. Jamestown, NY. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
^ ab. WIVB 4.com. April 5, 2010. Archived from the original on April 8, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
^ abc"Former Seneca president & war vet passes away"
^ abcGrabowski, Amanda (Feb 27, 2008). "Honored Seneca Historian, Linguist, And WWII Vet, George Heron, Turns 89". Salamanca Press.com. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
^Chris Lareau (2009-12-17). . Allegheny Almanac. Archived from the original on 2010-01-16. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
^Brown, Edgar A.; edited by Jeanette Miller. . Ganondagan. Archived from the original on August 30, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2012. {{cite web}}: |author2= has generic name (help)
^"Seneca Women's Vote is Vital, Heron Asserts". The Bradford Era. October 14, 1964.
^Michel, Christopher; Rich Place (May 28, 2011). "Friends And Family Remember George Heron". Salamanca Press. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
^"George Heron". O'Rourke & O'Rourke Inc. Funeral Home. 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
^. Appalachian Heirloom Plant Farm. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
External links
The Kinzua Dam controversy by Williams, Vicky, M.A., SUNY Buffalo, 2007, 58 pages. "Contains information from a 2006 original interview with George Heron."
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For other people named George Heron see George Heron disambiguation George D Heron February 22 1919 May 26 2011 was president of the Seneca Nation of Indians Seneca Nation of New York from 1958 to 1960 and again from 1962 to 1964 In addition to his cultural and community work he is known as a leader of the Seneca opposition to Kinzua Dam and for his work organizing the tribal resettlement George HeronHah Seh NogwasSeneca Nation of New York leaderPersonal detailsBorn 1919 02 22 February 22 1919Red House New YorkDiedMay 26 2011 2011 05 26 aged 92 Salamanca New YorkPolitical partyNew Deal PartyRelationsSisters Inez Redeye Mary Snow and Ada Heron ChildrenTwo sons a daughter two step sons and a step daughterParent s Parents David and Flora Tallchief HeronKnown forLeading opposition to Kinzua Dam and organizing resettlement efforts cultural community and political workHeron was known as a tribal historian Seneca language linguist and teacher He worked extensively with William N Fenton an ethnologist who studied and wrote about the Seneca and Iroquois Confederacy A political progressive Heron was a member of the New Deal Party one of the political factions in the nation before the current Seneca Party achieved one party rule in the 1990s Contents 1 Biography 2 Awards 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditGeorge D Heron was born in 1919 on the reservation of Seneca Nation of New York As a young man Heron served in the Civilian Conservation Corps cutting trees as well as building cabins bridges and roads still in use at Allegany State Park as of 2008 1 Mr Heron enlisted in the United States Navy in November of 1941 and served until his discharge in 1945 He achieved the rank of pharmacist mate first class during the war and was assigned to the United States Navy Amphibious Forces in campaigns in Africa Europe the Middle East and the Pacific 2 During Heron s tenure as President of the Seneca Nation of New York from 1958 to 1960 and again from 1962 to 1964 tribal members strongly opposed relocation of residents for construction of Kinzua Dam a federal project proposed for flood control and hydropower generation 3 During the early 1960s Heron had been instrumental in trying to persuade the U S government to use the Morgan Plan alternative which would have placed the Kinzua flood control dam in a different location He made several trips to Washington D C and was assured assistance by President John F Kennedy but to no avail Seven hundred members of the Seneca Nation were forced to sacrifice their ancestral homes and 10 000 acres of good bottom farm land to make way for the Kinzua Dam project A way of life was permanently destroyed 4 Heron led the tribe s relocation efforts 5 and oversaw construction of two residential communities Jimersontown and Steamburg The tribe used compensation received following the Kinzua Dam condemnation of Coldspring and a third of the reservation 4 Treaty of Canandaigua To us it is more than a contract more than a symbol to us the 1794 Treaty is a way of life 6 George Heron He also served as treasurer and councillor for the tribe 3 7 Women who had been denied the right to vote in Seneca elections were granted suffrage during Heron s second term Heron supported expanding suffrage as he felt the then majority view of the Seneca men who rejected multiple referendums to allow the women to vote was too conservative and ignorant which Heron believed harmed the tribe s efforts to negotiate with the outside world 8 He was a member of the Iroquois National Museum Board of Directors representative to the New York State Department of Aging and leader of the Iroquois Agricultural Society 2 on the executive board of the National Congress of American Indians and an elder of Jimerstown Presbyterian Church 9 He counted anthropologist William N Fenton and State Senator Catharine M Young among his personal friends He was employed by the Bridge Structural amp Ornamental Iron Workers Local 6 Buffalo New York retiring in 1981 10 His Ga Ga Hut pinto type pole bean variety has been sold as heirloom seeds 11 Some of his seed corn was submitted to Cornell University for safekeeping 4 He died on May 26 2011 aged 92 3 Awards Edit New York Medal for Merit April 2010 References Edit Turano Sharon Sep 7 2008 CCC Alumni Visit Allegany State Park The Post Journal Jamestown NY Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved December 5 2012 a b Senator honors former Seneca President WIVB 4 com April 5 2010 Archived from the original on April 8 2010 Retrieved December 5 2012 a b c Former Seneca president amp war vet passes away a b c Grabowski Amanda Feb 27 2008 Honored Seneca Historian Linguist And WWII Vet George Heron Turns 89 Salamanca Press com Retrieved December 5 2012 Chris Lareau 2009 12 17 Cornplanter can you swim Allegheny Almanac Archived from the original on 2010 01 16 Retrieved 2012 09 23 Brown Edgar A edited by Jeanette Miller 1794 Canandaigua Treaty Ganondagan Archived from the original on August 30 2011 Retrieved December 5 2012 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a author2 has generic name help George D Heron obituary Post Journal Seneca Women s Vote is Vital Heron Asserts The Bradford Era October 14 1964 Michel Christopher Rich Place May 28 2011 Friends And Family Remember George Heron Salamanca Press Retrieved December 5 2012 George Heron O Rourke amp O Rourke Inc Funeral Home 2007 Retrieved December 5 2012 Native American Seeds Appalachian Heirloom Plant Farm Archived from the original on June 8 2013 Retrieved December 5 2012 External links EditThe Kinzua Dam controversy by Williams Vicky M A SUNY Buffalo 2007 58 pages Contains information from a 2006 original interview with George Heron George Heron at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Heron amp oldid 1116718131, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
