The Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award is presented annually by the Cattaraugus County Planning Board to one or more community leaders who exemplify the outstanding spirit and example that Torrance Brooks and Donald Patterson set during their lifetime of dedicated service to their respective communities, County Legislature, County Planning Board, and regional agencies.

The recipients of these annual awards are chosen to give countywide recognition to leaders and volunteers who make lasting contributions to the people and communities of Cattaraugus County and its region.

The Cattaraugus County Planning Board’s theme for these awards is “People Are Our Greatest Resource”. In this spirit, we are pleased to present the 2025 Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award to: Tina Abrams for Outstanding Leadership In Community Involvement and Economic Development In Cattaraugus County

Congratulations Tina!

Tina Abrams has been a voice of leadership in the Seneca Nation for decades. First elected to the Seneca Nation Council in 2001, she was the first woman appointed as the legislative body’s Co-Chair in 2012. As an elected representative of the Seneca people, Abrams plays a leadership role in the oversight of all Nation enterprises, maintains strong contacts with Native organizations across the United States, and monitors and advocates on federal and state legislation and policy that impact Indian Country.

She is a tireless volunteer in her community, serving as chairperson of the Seneca Nation’s annual Veteran’s Powwow, a significant event that celebrates Native culture, and as a member of the Remember the Removal Committee, which recognizes the forced removal of hundreds of Seneca families from their ancestral homelands by the United States government in 1966 for the construction of the Kinzua Dam. She is an advocate for clean water, a healthy environment and a defender of Ohi:yo (beautiful Allegheny River). She is also the first woman chairperson of the Seneca Nation Athletic Commission, which regulates MMA, boxing and bare-knuckle event on the Seneca Nation Territories.

Her leadership extends beyond Seneca Territory, including roles on the Cattaraugus County Planning Board since 2002, and the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Board of Directors since 2021, and has been a proud supporter of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center as a member of the Wheel Strong Ride for Roswell team, which has raised more than $50,000 each of the past two years.

Abrams is also a fierce advocate for Native issues. In 2019, Abrams was elected to serve as Northeast Region Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the interests of tribal governments and communities across the United States.

She also served as a member of NCAI’s COVID Task Force, as the global pandemic took a particularly devastating toll on Native communities. In recognition of her leadership and many accomplishments, Abrams received the Trail Blazing Women of Western New York award in 2025.

Tina is a member of the Allegany Community Center and is active and participates in many activities such as bike riding, swimming and walking. She believes that eating is healthy, and exercising is key to having a good mind, body and soul. Tina enjoys the outdoors and loves camping, fishing, hiking, biking and walking. She mostly enjoys walking throughout her community and is spiritually connected to the land, woods and water.

A member of the Seneca Nation’s Wolf Clan, Abrams was raised on the Nation’s Cattaraugus Territory and has lived on the Allegany Territory for more than 40 years. She attended Gowanda Central Schools and later graduated from Jamestown Business College with honors and with her degree in Business Management.

Abrams and her husband, John, have been married for 42 years and have three children and 10 grandchildren.

As a recipient of this award, Tina Abrams exemplifies the values of community leadership, integrity, and service, reflecting the traditional teachings of her people. Her diligent efforts have made a lasting impact on her community, and we are honored to recognize her achievements.