Traditional Gayogohó:no Village

09/14/2026

Many people have asked for some background on Dusty’s court proceedings.

This case does not exist in isolation. It comes out of a much larger and long-standing struggle within the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ Nation involving governance, jurisdiction, the people, our lands and the authority to make decisions affecting Cayuga citizens.

Dustin ‘Dusty’ Parker has been involved in a series of legal proceedings arising from this dispute, including actions involving his business and property and efforts to banish him from Cayuga territory. These issues have been litigated in the Nation, New York State and federal courts, and raise important questions surrounding due process, jurisdiction and the rights of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ citizens.

Tuesday’s gathering is an opportunity for our people and supporters to peacefully stand with Dusty and his family as this legal process continues.

We are asking everyone who attends to wear purple, remain peaceful and respectful, and gather outside the Cayuga County Courthouse.

Our presence is about solidarity, community and ensuring that those facing these difficult proceedings know they do not stand alone.

09/08/2026

08/29/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Traditional Gayöghó:nǫ⁷ Village (Cayuga Nation) August 28, 2026

The Council of Condoled Chiefs and Clan Mothers is addressing the recent announcement concerning the appointment of Paul Daugherty as Superintendent of the Cayuga Nation Police Department.

Our concern is not with Mr. Daugherty personally or with his professional qualifications. It is with claims of governmental and police authority being made in the name of the Cayuga people.

The announcement states that Mr. Daugherty assisted with the “reacquisition” of Cayuga Nation properties described as having been “illegally occupied by dissident members.”
The Condoled Chiefs and Clan Mothers Council rejects that characterization.

Cayuga citizens who oppose or do not recognize the Halftown administration should not be reduced to “dissidents,” nor should longstanding disputes involving Cayuga leadership, land, authority, and jurisdiction be presented to the public as settled fact.

There was no consensus of the Condoled Chiefs and Clan Mothers Council approving Mr. Daugherty’s appointment or authorizing the current Cayuga Nation Police Department as an institution of the traditional Cayuga government.

The Halftown administration does not speak for or represent the traditional government recognized by the Condoled Chiefs and Clan Mothers Council.

Land, Authority, and Jurisdiction

The public should also understand an important distinction between the historic 64,015-acre Cayuga reservation and land held in federal trust.

In 2023, the Department of the Interior approved approximately 113.96 acres in Cayuga County for placement into federal trust. Those trust lands are distinct from privately owned property located within the historic reservation boundaries.

The existence of a historic reservation boundary does not, by itself, establish Cayuga Nation ownership of every parcel within it. Likewise, the federal government’s administrative relationship with the Halftown administration should not be portrayed as resolving every question of land ownership, governmental authority, or police jurisdiction.

These are distinct legal and governmental questions and should be treated as such.
The Condoled Chiefs and Clan Mothers Council does not recognize the current Cayuga Nation Police Department as an institution established through the traditional consensus process of Cayuga leadership, nor do its officers exercise the authority of the Condoled Chiefs and Clan Mothers Council.

This statement is not a personal attack on Paul Daugherty. It is a clarification of authority, accountability, and consent, and a rejection of language that portrays disputed matters within the Cayuga Nation as settled fact.

We urge the media, public officials, law-enforcement agencies, and the general public to acknowledge these distinctions when reporting on or dealing with the Halftown administration and the Cayuga Nation Police Department.

— Condoled Chiefs and Clan Mothers Council
Traditional Gayöghó:nǫ⁷ Village (Cayuga Nation)

Media Contact:
Chief Sam George
Council of Condoled Chiefs and Clan Mothers
Email: [email protected]

08/14/2026

An opportunity for Gayöghó:nǫ⁷ people to come together, share information, ask questions and discuss matters important to the Nation.

08/09/2026

Join us for our final day. All are welcome. 💜 Sunday’s gathering will feature Jane Burning, Rhea Cook, Fran Beauvais and Paul Delaronde, bringing together teachings and conversations around traditional knowledge, wellness, community care, sovereignty, healing and the strength we carry forward together.

07/26/2026

Court support request! Tuesday, July 28th at 9:15 a.m. at the Cayuga County Courthouse (152 Genesee St, Auburn NY)

Come out for Nora Weber, her family, and the Gayogo̱hó:no' community.

Wear purple to show support. Please gather outside the courthouse. We are asked to remain respectful and peaceful through the proceedings.

07/15/2026

Healing begins in community. ❤️ We invite Haudenosaunee women and men to join us for a weekend of connection, traditional teachings, cultural activities, and meaningful conversation.

Together, we’ll share stories, learn from respected knowledge keepers, celebrate our traditions, and create space for healing, wellness, and unity across generations.

07/15/2026

Their story is not an isolated one. To date, 24 Cayuga households have been displaced as a result of actions taken by the current Cayuga Nation administration led by Federal Representative Clint Halftown. These are real families whose lives have been disrupted. Children have faced displacement and separation from the community networks that sustained them. Click on the article below to read more!

When a Cayuga mother and her six children were forced from their Seneca Falls home in winter, it exposed a deeper rift: Traditional Gayogohó:no’ say the conflic...

07/07/2026

Last Wednesday evening, on July 1, community members gathered to listen, learn and have a serious discussion— and look toward the future together.

Throughout the evening, thoughtful questions were shared about our Gayogohó:no history, governance, the work currently underway as we rebuild our Traditional Cayuga Nation after years of turmoil. Community members wanted to know what comes next, how decisions are being made, and most importantly, how they can help.

That last question may have been the most encouraging of all.

Rebuilding a nation isn’t the work of one person or one family. It happens when people show up, ask difficult questions, share ideas respectfully, and offer their time, skills, and support for the generations yet to come.

We are grateful to everyone who attended, listened with open minds, and contributed to a meaningful and respectful discussion. Your voices matter, and your willingness to become part of this journey reminds us that our strength has always come from the people.

This conversation does not end with one meeting. It is only the beginning. Nya:wëh to everyone who joined us. We look forward to walking this path together.

Please continue to follow this page for more updates from the Traditional Gayogohó:no Village. More to come!