One of the five founding nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, the Oneida people are an American Indian tribe and First Nations band.
The original homeland of the Oneida was in what is now New York, around Oneida Lake and Oneida County.
Today, the Oneida people have two recognized nations in the United States, and two in Canada. In the United States, there is the Oneida Indian Nation in New York, and the Oneida Nation in and around Green Bay, Wisconsin. In Canada, there is the Oneida Nation of the Thames in Southwold, Ontario, and the Oneida at Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario.
The Oneida is one of the five founding nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, the others being the Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. Historically, the Iroquois were known as the Five Nations by the English and the Iroquois League (or Iroquois Confederacy) by the French, although they referred to themselves as the Haudenosaunee. After 1722, the Tuscarora joined the Confederacy, which became known as the Six Nations.
The Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Ontario is home to members of each of the tribes making up the Six Nations, and its government is made up of representatives from each.
Historically, the Oneida were the least populous of the member nations of the Iroquois. They had only one village of from 60 to 100 longhouses, and it was destroyed by French Canadians in 1696. After that, the Oneida divided into Oneida (Upper Castle) and Canawaroghere.
The name Oneida is derived from the English pronunciation of Onyota'a:ka, the Oneida people's name for themselves. It means "people of the standing stone." The legend behind the name is that a group of Oneida people were being pursued on foot by an enemy. When they were chased into a woodlands, they suddenly disappeared. The legend holds that the Oneida had shapeshifted into the stones that stood in the clearing.
Oneida individuals are identified according to their spirit name, their clan, and their family unit within a clan. Children are considered to be born into the mother's clan, which is the means through which descent and inheritance pass. The Oneida recognize three clans: the Wolf, Turtle, and Bear clans. Individuals take their social status from their mother's clan.
Unlike the majority of Iroquois, the Oneida supported the American Colonists during the War for Independence, which placed them at odds with their former allies, the Mohawk. Oneida communities took shelter within American lines, and several Oneida men served as scouts for the newly formed American military. Returning to their homes after the American victory against the British, they were compensated by the new United States government.
After the American victory, the Oneida were displaced by retaliatory raids by American settlers who didn't always distinguish between the Iroquois, who had been allies, and those who had sided with the British. In 1794, the Oneida were parties to a treaty in which they were granted six million acres, primarily in New York. However, subsequent treaties and New York state actions soon reduced these holdings to 32 acres. The Oneida had to share land on the Onondaga Reservation.
In the following years, the Oneida were divided over a number of issues, including disagreements over Quaker missions, traditional religion versus Christianity, and the sale of lands. By the early 1830s period of Indian removals, those who had not settled at Oneida on the Thames River in Ontario had emigrated to the area of Green Bay, Wisconsin, while a smaller number managed to remain at Oneida and Onondaga, New York.
Besides those living on the two reservations in the United States and the reserves in Canada, many Oneida are assimilated into American and Canadian life, and living elsewhere, while others have continued some of the traditional practices while living independently.
The Canadian actor Graham Greene is an Oneida born in Ohswekan, on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. He is known for his roles in Dances with Wolves, Maverick, The Green Mile, and The Shack, and several other productions in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The focus of this section of our online guide is on the Oneida People. Online resources focused on either of the recognized tribes or bands, as well as tribal businesses, industries, schools, medical facilities, museums, or other entities, or programs, are appropriate for this category, as are businesses owned or operated by Oneida individuals.
Recommended Resources
The Oneida Nation is a federally recognized tribe of Oneida people in the United States. Headquartered in Verona, New York, in the area where the tribe originated and held territory prior to European colonialism. The Oneida are one of the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, or Haudenosaunee. Its governmental and leadership structure, member services, member outreach activities, and advocacy, as well as its history, culture, teacher resources, language, and departments, are outlined.
https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/
Working closely with state, county, and local police agencies, the Oneida Indian Nation Police Department is an integral part of Central New York's law enforcement community. Responsible for the safety of more than 6 million visitors each year, the department provides community policing for the Nation and its casinos and businesses. The chief of police, bureau of investigation, police officer training, and employment opportunities are highlighted, and contacts are posted.
https://www.oneidanationpolice.com/about-us
Locally referred to as the Oneida Settlement, the Oneida Nation of the Thames is an Oneida First Nations band government in southwest Ontario, Canada. Its administrative operations, office hours, and contacts are posted, along with its membership office, community health program, emergency services, community center, educational programs, public works, social services, and employment and training programs are featured, and a calendar of events is included.
https://oneida.on.ca/
The Oneida Nation is a federally recognized tribe of Oneida people in Wisconsin, its reservation spanning parts of two counties west of the Green Bay metropolitan area. The land was individually owned until the tribe was formed under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. A members-only area of the site is available to members of the Nation. Otherwise, the general tribal council, boards, committees, commissions, departments, and administrative offices are posted, with contacts.
https://oneida-nsn.gov/
Located in Bridgeport, New York, Point Place Casino is a 65,000-square-foot gaming and dining facility with a modern Las Vegas-style gaming floor with nearly 500 slot machines and 20 classic table games, including electronic Roulette and Big-Six. Partnered with Caesars Entertainment, the facility is owned by the Oneida Indian Nation. Its casino, dining facilities, bars, and entertainment venues are highlighted, and career opportunities are featured.
https://www.pointplacecasino.com/
Owned and operated by the Oneida Indian Nation, the resort casino features five hotels, two spas, five golf courses, and more than twenty dining options, as well as a 125,000 square foot Vegas-style gaming floor, a cabaret-style showroom, a 5,000-seat event center, customizable meeting and conference spaces, six shopping venues, and four nightlife venues. Directions, a map, and contacts are published on the site; rooms may be booked from the site, and gift cards may also be purchased.
https://www.turningstone.com/
