Seneca Nation Joins West Valley for Sunrise Ceremony, Walk on Earth Day

The Cattaraugus Creek Water Walkerz perform a ritual round dance before the start of a public meeting on the West Valley Demonstration Project cleanup.

WEST VALLEY, N.Y. — A Seneca Nation of Indians local grassroots group, the Cattaraugus Creek Water Walkerz, marked Earth Day at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) and raised awareness about protecting the creek watershed.

Kicking off the day’s events at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management site is fitting given West Valley’s mission to reduce environmental risks and its close connection to the Seneca Nation territory, according to Joseph Pillittere, Communication and External Affairs manager for cleanup contractor West Valley Cleanup Alliance (WVCA).

“This event is a reminder that we must work together to protect the environment, for it provides everything we need in life,” Pillittere said. “I was honored to have been asked to participate in the sunrise ceremony and other Earth Day activities with the Seneca Nation.”

He added that West Valley’s priorities remain unchanged: accelerate cleanup, eliminate potential environmental threats and reduce the cleanup footprint and lifecycle costs.

The Cattaraugus Creek Water Walkerz begin a 4.4-mile walk following a sunrise ceremony near the West Valley Demonstration Project on Earth Day. They traveled to a public meeting on the West Valley cleanup.

The Earth Day gathering brought attention to the importance of caring for the land, waterways and air so future generations can thrive, according to participants.

For the sunrise ceremony, they formed a circle symbolizing unity and the understanding that everyone is connected. They lit tobacco as part of a cleansing ritual for the body, mind and heart, and offered prayers to the spirits. They also prayed for the safety of West Valley employees as they continue their mission to reduce legacy risks at the site.

Later, the Cattaraugus Creek Water Walkerz payed tribute to the earth as they trekked more than 4 miles to attend a public meeting on the West Valley cleanup.

“The walk is a spiritual journey and a good platform for advocacy and education,” said Maria Maybee, a Seneca Nation member and a walk organizer. “Every step is a prayer. We pray for ourselves, we pray that the workers and decision-makers at West Valley continue to be safe, and perform work in a manner that protects the community and the environment.”

Maybee added: “We enjoy the many offerings Mother Earth provides, from water to drink to vegetables to eat. But it’s important that we protect these natural resources for future generations so they can benefit from these offerings.”