Judy Buckley

Friend of RIT/NTID

Judy’s affiliation and support for RIT/NTID is with and for her husband, Gerry Buckley, President of NTID, Vice President and Dean of RIT.

What is your heritage/tribal affiliation?
My father is Oklahoma Cherokee. We are tribal Citizens of the Cherokee Nation, as are my children.

What or who has been your biggest cultural influence?
My biggest cultural influences have come from my family, my Cherokee Nation, as well as several surrounding indigenous people & nations. These nations include the Hodinishoni (Seneca), Mohawk, Tuscarora, and more. Former Cherokee Nation Principal Chief, Wilma Mankiller continues to influence in my life. She signed my children's Tribal Citizen I.D. cards before she passed away from cancer. Her leadership in recognizing the importance of our language, culture, and infrastructure was, and continues to be, substantial. As a woman, I am thankful for being part of an indigenous Nation which honors their women to the highest level of governance. My gratitude also extends to many nearby indigenous people, like Peter Jemison (Seneca), Jeanette Miller (Mohawk), and Onalee Clinton/Cooper. Onalee is the daughter of Chief Clinton (Tuscarora). Lastly, for my husband Gerry. Though Gerry is born from proud Irish descent, this husband has opened his life and heart to a race and culture ingrained in this land, embedded in his wife and children.

What would you like people to know about your culture?
My culture nurtures, embraces and honors our future, our children. We share the responsibility of imparting truth, celebration, and hope to our youth. My culture equally nurtures, embraces, and honors our elders. We rely on the wisdom, knowledge, and memory of ceremonies our elders possess and pass on. We are part of a race of people who have survived. This race of people consists of 574+ (federally recognized) autonomous Nations/Tribes across the USA. It is important to understand, though some similarities exist, that each of these Nations/Tribes have a language and culture unique to each of their indigenous Nations.

What is your favorite indigenous dish?
Hands down, I relish dishes prepared from our indigenous plants. White corn, various squashes, fruits, vegetables, and plants that feed us and ease ailments or heal our bodies.

Do you have any resources to share with someone who would like to learn more about your culture?
An absolute must: located in Victor, NY, is the Native American Historical Site, Ganondagan. Ganondagan hosts events and programs year-round. These programs and events include dance, art, and education. This site has a replica of a long house where tours are led. A must see is the Seneca Art and Culture Museum and its gift shop located on this property. One last must see on Ganondagan lands are the marked hiking trails. These trails have illustrated signs identifying plants, history, customs, and beliefs from the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). Read. Read. Read. Several of the indigenous Nations have websites. There are a plethora of books published. I'm currently reading Empire of the Summer Moon, by S.C. Gwynne.

What is a fun fact about yourself?
Though a Nana of four grandchildren, maybe more in the foreseeable future, (no pressure Jenny, Tim, and Ryan), I share the love of horses with our daughter Jenny. Whether we are riding through the woods at a leisurely pace or galloping up and round the hills, our time together is a gift. I look forward to sharing this joy with my grandchildren.