Who Are the Oneida?
The Oneida are an Iroquoian-speaking people, one of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin has approximately 17,000 enrolled members; the Oneida Indian Nation of New York has about 1,000; additional Oneida live at Six Nations of the Grand River in Canada. Their name "Onyota'a:ka" means "People of the Standing Stone"—referring to a sacred stone said to follow them in migrations. They speak Oneida, an Iroquoian language with approximately 200 speakers. Uniquely among the Haudenosaunee, the Oneida allied with the Americans during the Revolution—a decision with lasting consequences.
Revolutionary Allies
The Oneida (with the Tuscarora) sided with the American colonists during the Revolution—against other Haudenosaunee nations who supported Britain. Oneida warriors fought at Oriskany and Saratoga; Polly Cooper famously brought corn to Washington's starving army at Valley Forge. This alliance should have protected Oneida lands; instead, New York systematically dispossessed them through fraudulent treaties, reducing 6 million acres to 32 acres by 1920. This betrayal—American allies receiving worse treatment than British-allied nations—remains a bitter legacy. Oneida land claims against New York continue.
Wisconsin Migration
In the 1820s-30s, many Oneida migrated to Wisconsin under pressure from New York and missionary encouragement. They purchased land near Green Bay, establishing a new homeland. This community—today's Oneida Nation of Wisconsin—grew to become one of Wisconsin's largest tribes. Meanwhile, the New York Oneida dwindled to a tiny community near Oneida Lake. The Wisconsin Oneida developed differently, adopting Episcopal Christianity while maintaining clan structures. The separation created two distinct Oneida nations with shared heritage but different experiences.
Contemporary Oneida
Modern Oneida nations pursue different strategies. The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin operates major gaming and retail enterprises near Green Bay, employing thousands. Revenue supports language revitalization, cultural programs, and community services. The Oneida Indian Nation of New York, smaller but historic, operates the Turning Stone Resort Casino and has reacquired thousands of acres of ancestral land. Both nations work on language revitalization; Oneida has more speakers than most Iroquoian languages but remains endangered. The standing stone endures—how both Oneida nations preserve shared culture while navigating different contexts shapes this people of the stone's future.
References
- Campisi, J. (1988). \"Oneida\" (Handbook of North American Indians, Vol. 15)
- Hauptman, L. M. & McLester, G. (1999). The Oneida Indian Journey: From New York to Wisconsin, 1784-1860
- Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. (2020). Cultural Heritage Program Documentation