NW teams with Tuscarora Nation

Submitted by the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District

The Tuscarora Nation recently held its annual Tuscarora Picnic and Field Day. This year was the 177th Tuscarora Picnic – one of the oldest continuous Field Days in Niagara County.

On Saturday, July 13, following the opening address given by Turtle Chief "Sacarissa" Brennen Ferguson, Niagara Wheatfield School Superintendent Daniel Ljiljanich was honored for his work in getting the funding to help repair the 70-year-old Tuscarora School. The school had fallen into disrepair and needed upgrading in several areas. Ljiljanich joined with the superintendents of Onondaga Nation School and Salmon River School in Akwesasne to bring attention to the critical funding needed to repair these schools. Because of their efforts and the work of others who helped to publicize this need, New York state provided the district with the funds to address these issues at Tuscarora Nation and Onondaga Nation, and Salmon River is getting a new school.

On behalf of Tuscarora chiefs and clan mothers and Tuscarora Nation, Ljiljanich was presented with a beaded frame with a plaque reading, “Nya'we Daniel Ljiljanich for your dedication to the students from the Tuscarora Nation and throughout the Niagara Wheatfield School District your relationship with the Tuscarora Nation to create a positive environment will benefit students for years to come.”