“REMEMBER THE REMOVAL” in honor of Governor Blacksnake

Walk will begin at 10am (Bus rides will start 9:30am at Steamburg Community Building)
From Steamburg barricades to Blacksnake Cemetery

Luncheon at 12pm

Featured Speaker Thomas Abler at 1pm-2pm

Historic Background of Governor Blacksnake

Governor Blacksnake or Tëwönya’s (Chainbreaker) was an influential war chief who fought for the British in the Revolutionary War from 1777-1783 and then for the United STates against the British in the War of 1812, earning his nickname from George Washington based on his height and dark skin tone. Governor Blacksnake was the nephew of both Cornplanter and Handsome Lake. He was also very influential in confirming the Seneca ownership of the Oil Springs territory. During his final days Governor Blacksnake provided an invaluable map he attained from the 1797 Big Tree Treaty which with his testimony, resulted in the Seneca ownership of the “oil spring.” He died at this home in Coldspring in 1859 at 107 years old, however, he was not able to rest in peace. The Army Corps of Engineers resurrected his body during the Kinzua Dam removal and he is currently buried at Hillside Haven in Steamburg, NY.

Thomas Abler, author of the book Chainbreaker (a first hand account from Governor Blacksnake), is our honored speaker for the 2015 Remember the Removal program. Mr. Abler is a professor of anthropology at the University of Waterloo. He is also the author of Hinterland Warriors and Cornplanter.