Nundawao: Birthplace of the Seneca Nation The Finger Lakes region of New York is not only a place of natural beauty but it is also of deep historical and cultural significance. For the Seneca people, this region is home to their origins. The origin story of Nundawao, tells the story of their emergence and connection to the land. Origins at South Hill According to Seneca oral tradition, their ancestors first appeared at a site known as Nundawao, located at the southern end of Canandaigua Lake . The Seneca refer to themselves as Onödowága' , meaning "Great Hill People," a reference to this sacred place . South Hill, the believed location of Nundawao, provided an ideal environment for early Seneca settlements. Rich in forests, freshwater, and fertile soil, the region allowed the Seneca to develop a sustainable way of life. Adjacent to South Hill is Bare Hill , known as Genundowa to the Seneca, a site that remains culturally significant. Rising approximately 865 feet above C...