“After Columbus, foreigners came here causing overwhelming changes, putting our culture and way of life at risk. I have focused my art skills and abilities to interpret and define our culture for the purpose of survival.”

Waterman was instrumental in the development of the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum on Allegany Reservation. The unwritten mission of that endeavor serves Waterman equally well as an artist: “We must interpret and express our history and our culture ourselves because we know it best.”