Amelia Cornelius facts for kids

Amelia Margaret (Hawk) Cornelius (born January 28, 1938 – died March 12, 2016) was a talented artist. She was a member of the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin in the United States. Amelia was famous for her traditional Oneida corn bread and special corn husk dolls. Her dolls and her work with the Oneida Tribe helped keep their culture and language alive.

Amelia's Early Life

Amelia Cornelius was born on January 28, 1938, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her grandparents taught her many important things. Her grandfather shared stories about tribal history. Her grandmother, Priscilla Jordan Hawk Manders, taught her how to make corn husk dolls. Priscilla had learned this skill from Amelia's great-grandmother, Amelia Wheelock Jordan.

Amelia loved sharing her knowledge. She often talked about the history of corn husk dolls. She explained their meaning in Oneida culture. She did this through radio shows and doll-making workshops. Amelia Cornelius passed away on March 12, 2016, when she was 78 years old.

Her Work for the Oneida Tribe

Amelia Cornelius worked hard for the Oneida Tribe for many years. She was the Oneida Tribal Secretary for 16 years. She also served as the Oneida Gaming Assistant Manager for six years. Later, she was part of the Oneida Gaming Commission for 13 years.

Amelia also directed the Oneida Bilingual/Bi-cultural Program for seven years. This program helped preserve the Oneida language and culture. She also helped build the first Anna John Nursing Home. She even helped get a grant for the Oneida Museum.

Her Education

Amelia Cornelius believed in learning. She earned a bachelor's degree in Communication. She got this degree from UW Green Bay in June 1996.

Special Corn Husk Dolls

Amelia Cornelius was well-known for her unique corn husk dolls. These dolls do not have faces. They are dressed in traditional Oneida clothing for men and women. The dolls are made from corn husks, cloth, beads, leather, yarn, wood, and feathers.

What the Dolls Mean

The dolls show a person's life goal. They represent finding and following your own humble path. Amelia also used them to show how important women were in Oneida culture. She felt this was not always emphasized enough. Each doll is posed to look like it is doing an activity.

How the Dolls Were Made

Amelia researched old Oneida clothing styles. She studied beadwork designs and traditional storytelling. Storytelling often uses metaphors and symbols. She also sold her corn husk dolls. People said her dolls had deep cultural meanings. They helped teach younger generations about Oneida culture.

To make the dolls, Amelia used white corn. This corn has longer husks, which made doll-making easier. She even grew her own white corn to have enough supplies.

The "Three Sisters"

Corn, beans, and squash are very important crops to the Oneida people. They are called the "Three Sisters." These three crops helped feed the Oneida people. They are also used for medicine, ceremonies, and art. Using corn husks for dolls makes them very special to the Oneida.

Amelia Cornelius was a pioneer in using corn husk dolls. She used them to help save Oneida culture. Before her, the dolls were mostly just toys. Their popularity was declining.

Amelia's Legacy

On October 14, 2018, a special park was named after Amelia. It is called the Amelia Cornelius Culture Park. This park celebrates the survival of Indigenous people. The park opened with a tobacco burning ceremony. This ceremony was a prayer for the survival of Indigenous culture, traditions, and language. Amelia, as an Oneida historian, had worked hard for these things.

The park now hosts annual events. It features Oneida historians and Indigenous gatherings. There are also historic homes you can walk through. This helps visitors learn about Oneida history.

A social dinner and seed exchange were held at the park on September 25, 2019. This event brought tribal communities together. People wore traditional clothing and shared traditional seeds. The Oneida Nation's 10th annual Big Apple Fest was also held at the park. This free community event on September 21, 2019, featured horse-drawn wagon rides and an apple baking contest.

Exhibitions and Workshops

Amelia Cornelius shared her art and knowledge widely.

• Exhibition:
  • "The raised bead work contest submission of corn husk dolls with outfit decorated with bead work motifs" at Bear Paw Keepsakes contest, WI, during October, 2006.

• Workshops:
  • "Corn husk dolls with Amelia Cornelius" at the Art Garage in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Sep 16, 2015.
  • "The art of making Corn husk dolls" at the 2003 University Summer Forum at UW–Madison on July 15, 2003.
  • "Corn husk dolls demo" at the Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 18, 2010.
  • "Corn Husk Doll Workshop" at the Multicultural Center in Green Bay on March 10, 2015.
  • "Mother-daughter doll-making duo" at the 32nd Annual Smithsonian Folk life Festival at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in 1998.

Collections

Amelia's dolls are part of important collections.

• Marriott Residence Inns in Sacramento, California, and the District of Columbia.
• The Norbert Hill Center in Oneida.
• Wisconsin Folk Museum

Honors and Awards

Amelia Cornelius received several awards for her work.

• 2001 Oneida Fellowship by Dollar for Art Program
• 2006 The raised bead work contest winner sponsored by Bear Paw Keepsakes
• 2015 NACF Regional Artist Fellowship by Native Arts and Cultures Foundation