“We’re Western New Yorkers, and we’re one big community”

That WNY community is mixed with so many different cultures, but Kevin Nephew, the President & CEO of Seneca Gaming believes that an aspect of everyday life that ties them all together is the love sports – which is evident by all the Buffalo sports jerseys across the Seneca Nation.

“It’s not just about football, it’s not just about the fandom, but it’s about the values that the Bills show,” Nephew said. “That fighting spirit, that winning spirit, working together, being able to communicate, and I think those truly are fundamental values that cross cultures.”

“I think there’s an alignment that we are all part of Western New York and we’re all part of a community. When we face adversity, we all pull together, and it’s a beautiful thing,” Nephew said. “Through thick and thin, through wins and losses, it doesn’t matter. We’re loyal, we’re Western New Yorkers, and we’re one big community.”

Growing up, Nephew played little league football on the Cattaraugus territory for the Seneca Sachems, and it was an off-field memory at an end-of-the-season banquet with former Bills guard Joe DeLamielleure that stood out to him when thinking back on his own football career.

“Coming from the Seneca Nation, we have our heroes in the community,” Nephew said. “But many of our heroes were the Buffalo Bills, so I think it was just a great amount of pride at the time when Joe D came to visit.”

Nephew is a devoted Bills fan, especially when looking at the growth of the organization and how the team celebrates their storied history. And to highlight that storied history, Nephew turns to Stand with Seneca, a program that informs and educates the public about their history, while advocating for the nation he is proud to be a member of.

“It’s about standing together, and that’s what we need to do. Stand together as people and as Western New Yorkers,” Nephew said. “We are proud of our Seneca culture and proud of what all our generations have done. A fundamental value is to ensure the wellbeing of…