J. Conrad Seneca says the city acknowledged the site's restricted-fee status in writing in 2023
J. Conrad SenecaPresident of the Seneca Nation of Indians
In a message on the Nation's news site, Seneca says the One Stop site is sovereign land placed in restricted-fee status three years ago, that the city acknowledged that status in writing in 2023, and that the project will move forward despite the city's opposition.
Responding to
The 5 Miami Street site is sovereign Seneca Nation land, and the City of Buffalo has no authority to stop construction there.
“Our nearly four-acre site is sovereign land and was placed in Restricted Fee status by the Department of Interior three years ago, something that the City acknowledged in writing in 2023. Despite meeting with Sean Ryan and other City officials in person in early September to open dialogue between our governments, the City instead chose to fight the Nation over our sovereign rights on our land. I have made it clear that the proposed Seneca One Stop project will move forward and that the Seneca Nation will always fight to defend our sovereignty, our treaties, and our rights to create economic opportunity on our lands in the way we best see fit for the benefit of our people.”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
Buffalo sues to halt the Seneca Nation's gas station on Miami Street; the Nation says the land is sovereign and outside city control
The City of Buffalo sued in New York State Supreme Court on October 7, 2026, to halt construction of a Seneca Nation fuel station and convenience store at 5 Miami Street in the Old First Ward. On October 8 it asked a federal court to vacate the Interior Department's 2023 decision placing the 3.8-acre site in restricted-fee status. The city says the land was not bought with Seneca Nation Settlement Act money and remains subject to city zoning, permits and environmental review. Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca says the site is sovereign Seneca land and that construction will continue.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
President J. Conrad Seneca's regular message on the Seneca Nation's news site, covering a White House tribal leaders' meeting, federal law enforcement legislation and the dispute with the City of Buffalo over the Seneca One Stop site.
Before the quotation
Seneca's message first describes a White House meeting where he raised state and local challenges to the Nation's efforts to place ancestral lands in restricted-fee status, then says diplomacy sometimes does not work and that the Nation faces hostility from the City of Buffalo over the One Stop project on Ohio Street.
After the quotation
The message then turns to the opening of a wound care center at Buffalo General Medical Center.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is the Seneca Nation's construction of a fuel station at 5 Miami Street on land it holds in restricted fee, without the city permits and reviews Buffalo says are required. Seneca defends the construction as development on sovereign land with federal restricted-fee status, blames the city for choosing a fight, and says the project will move forward.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- City of Buffalo, Sean Ryan
More from this case
Read the full caseCity of Buffalo asks a federal court to annul Interior's restricted-fee decision on 5 Miami Street
City of Buffalo
“The City of Buffalo brings this action under the Administrative Procedure Act to annul an arbitrary, capricious, and facially defective decision by the Department of the Interior”Read statement
Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca says the Nation will defend its sovereignty and keep building at the site
“While Sean Ryan continues his act, we will continue developing our land for the benefit of our people and creating local jobs, just as we have done with our other developments on our other sovereign lands within the city of Buffalo.”Read statement
Mayor Sean Ryan says any entity building in Buffalo must account for its impact on the community
“We have a responsibility to protect those investments and the people who live, work, and spend time here. It is incumbent on us to make sure that any entity developing a project in Buffalo understands the impact it will have on the surrounding community and does its part to be a good neighbor.”Read statement
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- J. Conrad Seneca says the city acknowledged the site's restricted-fee status in writing in 2023
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The Dispute Index. "J. Conrad Seneca says the city acknowledged the site's restricted-fee status in writing in 2023". First published: 2026-10-21. Last updated: 2026-10-21. https://disputeindex.com/events/6426-in-a-message-on-the-nation-s-news