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On April 29th, Wells College released an official statement from President Jonathan C. Gibralter that the 156 year old institution would be shutting its doors at the end of this school year. This feels like a huge loss but has the historic potential to be a pathway for unprecedented community creation. But only if we have the courage to unite together and take action.

Wells College is located on the eastern shores of Cayuga Lake in the beautiful finger lakes region of New York State. It is nestled mostly in the Village of Aurora, but straddles into the Township of Ledyard. The 300 plus acre campus stretches from the lakeshore up the rolling hills and includes 2 ravines and woods. There are peaceful views overlooking the lake throughout the entire campus of picturesque, 19th century buildings.

Therein lies the first obvious problem: Wells College is prime, waterfront real estate which has already been facing opposition from local residents regarding the profitable, private development plans (which the President supported) revealed in early 2023.

The second problem, which is much more significant in terms of the potential for humanity to evolve, is that Wells College is located directly on the site of a major Cayuga village, which was completely destroyed during the American Revolution in the year 1779. This scorched earth campaign was ordered by General George Washington and accepted by General Sullivan to carry out. The Sullivan Campaign, which began in Pennsylvania, destroyed more than 40 Cayuga villages, displacing the Cayuga people and causing a loss of culture and sense of homelessness for almost 250 years, as well as all the mental, emotional, physical and socio-economic problems that come with what historian Fred Anderson describes as “ethnic cleansing”.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the righteous future for the property Wells College sits on, is to be returned to the Cayuga people.

New York State MUST give the LAND BACK.

There are successful examples of Land Back voluntarily in other states, but thus far, New York State has only given Land Back as negotiations of legal settlements.

Why??

Why does New York State need to be “proved wrong” through the court system??

What if it is simply the Will of the People to give the Land Back? Without a fight. Because it is the right thing to do. Because it will bring healing to a group of people who do not deserve to be discriminated against any more than any of us do. Because it will bring healing to the immediate and extended community of current residents. And because through healing, we all could move forward in creating a future based in Love, instead of continued control, colonization, exploitation and profits for the very few.

I was born and raised in New York State. I am proud to call myself a “New Yorker” and proud to live in a state that is a leader in supporting the rights of women, Black people, the LGBTQ+ community and other groups seeking social Justice. But since my very vague childhood awareness of “the reservation”, where my father was welcomed to play lacrosse, I have always felt the Truth that children easily know: that something is not right, that this situation does not feel grounded in Love.

With the understanding that one can acquire with time, I have been consistently disappointed to see the hesitation from New York State, including Governor Kathy Hochul, to support Haudenosaunee people and other native nations in New York in the same way as others. The “support” always seems to come with the modern version of exploitation and colonialism- casinos. Why do we have to pigeon hole the opportunities and undiscovered individual potential of the first peoples of the New York territory into such stereotypical and limited roles??

I find it shameful that New York State and the United States Federal Government blatantly disregard the spirit of Two Row wampum.

We, the signers of this petition, are residents of the world.

We are “citizens” of various countries, allegedly bound by various laws from birth. But we understand that if humans made up these borders and rules and treaties, then humans can undo them. And there is NO reason why it needs to be difficult.

We sign this petition to express that not only are we open to change, but we embrace it and desire New York State to intentionally create change in an easy and peaceful manner, centered in love and compassion.

We sign this petition to express our Will that Wells College campus NOT be sold, in any fragment, for private development but to remain a rural, higher educational space in some form.

We sign this petition to express our Will that New York State purchases the entire college to resolve the financial debts that have accrued and are the cited cause for closure.

We sign this petition to express our Will that Wells College remain open, under state ownership, for the next three years, in order to allow current students to finish out and secure over 200 jobs, while the future educational structure and plans are being created.

We sign this petition to express our Will that New York State, willingly, lovingly and immediately, gives the entire Wells College LAND BACK to the Traditional Cayuga Council of Chiefs, the Ten Cayuga Clan Families of the Haudenosaunee (people of the longhouse).

We sign this petition to express our Will that this LAND BACK represents a major shift in the policies and attitudes of New York State towards the Haudenosaunee and other native nations in New York which identify this region as their home lands.

We sign this petition to express our Will that this LAND BACK sets precedent to encourage other educational institutions that occupy the lands of Haudenosaunee and other native nations in New York State, to do more than simply give Land Acknowledgments, but to take meaningful action and steps to find ways to give LAND BACK.

We sign this petition to express our Will that we, the people and citizens of the world community, choose the path of “Potential for Healing”, and the growth which organically blossoms, over the path of the “Potential for Profit”.

We sign this petition to express our Will that we, the people and citizens of the world community are asking, in plain terms, for all our elected representatives to hear our Will and shift to this Path of Potential, embodied in Love, compassion and the well being of all beings.

Thank you