They belong to the Iroquoian language family, and were one of the original Five Nations of the League of the Iroquois, who traditionally lived in New York.

However, after the signing of the 1794 treaty, New York entered into land sales and leases with the Cayuga Nation, without the approval of the United States Congress.

In doing so, this meant that the transactions were illegal, as the state of New York did not have the constitutional authority to deal directly with the tribes.

The jury returned a verdict in favor of the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York and the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, finding current fair market value damages of $35 million and total fair rental value damages of $3.5 million.

[1] Essentially the court ruled that the plaintiffs had taken too long to present their case, when it might have been equitably settled earlier.

The Cayuga Indian Nation of New York sought review of this decision by the Supreme Court of the United States, which was denied on May 15, 2006.

Since August 2003, Clint Halftown serves as the federal representative to the Bureau of Indian Affairs,[11][12][4] although a number of self-described "traditionalists" in the community do not recognize his administration.

[18] The nation controls several businesses, including Lakeside Entertainment, which includes four Class II Gaming facilities,[19] Lakeside Trading convenience stores; Harford Glen Water, a water bottler; Gakwiyo Garden, which grows 35 types of fruits and vegetables and provides food for over one hundred member households; Cayuga Corner, which sells fresh produce and flowers; and Arrow Head Hemp, which produces a variety of CBD products.

[21] Lakeside Entertainment is owned by the Cayuga nation and as of 2024 consists of four Class II Gaming facilities.

The Cayuga Indian Nation sought to enjoin the authorities from initiating any prosecution and to compel them to return the seized cigarettes.

[24] New York Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Fisher denied the Cayugas' motion for a preliminary injunction and dismissed the action.

On February 22, 2020, around 2 AM, Cayuga Nation Police raided the Seneca Falls gas station and demolished it along with other buildings on the property including a school house for indigenous ceremonies, a daycare center, and some tiny homes that were being lived in at that time.