Oneida Indian Nation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oneida Indian Nation of New YorkOneida Indian Nation |
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| Native American | |
Oneida Indian Nation of New York Tribal Seal
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| Ethnicity | Haudenosaunee, Iroquoian |
| Location |  United States Oneida County, Vernon, NY, Madison County, Verona, New York |
| Descended from | Oneida people |
| Population | 1,000+ |
| Branches | Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Oneida Nation of the Thames, Affiliated Tribes Six Nations of the Grand River, Seneca Nation, Onondaga Nation, Tuscarora Nation, Mohawk Nation, Cayuga Nation, other Iroquoian peoples |
| Language | Onyota'aka, English, other Iroquoian languages |
| Religion | Christianity, Longhouse Religion, Other Indigenous Religion |
The Oneida Indian Nation (OIN) is a Native American tribe. It is officially recognized by the United States government. The Oneida people are part of the Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee. They speak an Iroquoian language.
The Oneida Indian Nation is based in Verona, New York. This is where their people have lived for a very long time, even before Europeans arrived. The Oneida are famous for being "America's first allies." They were one of the few Iroquois nations to support the American side during the American Revolutionary War.
Today, the Oneida Indian Nation controls about 18,000 acres of land in Madison and Oneida County, New York. They run many businesses on this land. These businesses include a large resort with a casino.
The Oneida Indian Nation has been involved in lawsuits about their land. These lawsuits were against the state of New York. They argued that some land deals made after the American Revolutionary War were not legal. This was because the United States Congress did not approve them, as required by the US Constitution. Many issues were settled by a big agreement in 2013. This agreement was made between the Oneida Indian Nation, New York State, and Madison and Oneida Counties.
Contents
Becoming a Member
The Oneida Indian Nation has rules for who can be a member. To become a citizen, you need to show that at least one of your grandparents was Oneida. This is traced through your mother's family line. The Oneida and other Iroquois nations have a matrilineal system. This means that family ties and inheritance pass down through the mother.
Clans
The Oneida Indian Nation has three main family groups, called clans: the Turtle, Wolf, and Bear clans. Every member of the Nation belongs to one of these clans. A child is born into their mother's clan. This means they get their social status from her family.
How Clans Were Created
An old legend tells how the clan names and the matrilineal system began. Long ago, when someone in the Oneida village died, everyone would mourn. This meant important decisions were put on hold. Village leaders didn't know how to keep daily life going while still following mourning traditions.
A young person suggested a solution. They said three wise women should go to the river, build a fire, and spend the night. At dawn, they should pray and watch for the first animal to come to the river. The women did this. One woman saw a turtle. The second saw a wolf. The third saw a bear.
After hearing this, the village leaders named the Oneida clans Turtle, Wolf, and Bear. They decided that a person's clan would pass down through the mother's side. This is because women have the special gift of creating life. The Oneida Nation still follows this matrilineal system today.
After the clans were set up, they changed their mourning practices. When someone died, only the members of that person's clan would mourn. Members of a second clan would comfort them. And members of the third clan would continue with village business. This way, life could go on.
Meaning of the Clans
The Haudenosaunee people, including the Oneida, have kinship groups called clans. Besides their immediate family, Nation members also have a larger family of fellow clan members. Since it's a matrilineal society, each person is born into their mother's clan.
The three Oneida Nation clans are named after animals: the turtle, wolf, and bear. Each animal has special positive qualities.
- The turtle teaches patience and the importance of never giving up. Turtles also represent strength and unity. They are seen as old and wise, and are highly respected.
- The wolf teaches us to listen carefully and be watchful. Wolves also show a strong sense of family.
- The bear is seen as gentle yet strong. Bears show strength by knowing when not to fight, even when it's tempting.
Businesses
The Oneida Indian Nation created Oneida Nation Enterprises. This company runs many businesses in Central New York. In 2013, it was the biggest employer in the area, providing about 5,000 jobs.
Bingo and Gasoline
In the early 1990s, the Oneida Indian Nation opened a bingo hall. Ray Halbritter, an Oneida leader, opened a gas station called SavOn nearby. The gas was cheaper, so the station became very popular.
Later, the Oneida Indian Nation bought SavOn. They expanded it into many locations. Today, SavOn is a chain of gas stations and convenience stores. They are owned and operated by the Oneida Indian Nation in Oneida and Madison counties.
Casinos and Resorts
The Oneida Indian Nation opened several casinos. The first was the Turning Stone Casino & Resort in 1993. After the 2013 agreement, they opened the Yellow Brick Road Casino in 2015. In 2018, they opened the Point Place Casino.
Turning Stone Resort Casino
The Turning Stone Resort & Casino is the tribe's most successful business. It has grown a lot since it opened in 1993. The casino has a large gaming area. It also includes hotels and restaurants that are highly rated. Many shows are held there throughout the year. The resort also hosts a fall PGA golf tournament.
In 2016, the casino and resort had a $20 million upgrade. This project added better smoke-free areas, improved air systems, and upgraded rooms.
"Yellow Brick Road" Casino
In June 2015, the Oneida Indian Nation opened a casino with a theme from The Wizard of Oz. This was a nod to the writer, L. Frank Baum, who was from Central New York. The casino is in Chittenango, NY. It has a large gaming space with over 400 slot machines.
Recently, the casino was renamed the YBR Casino & Sports Book. The company is moving away from the Wizard of Oz theme. New features include more table games, a six-lane bowling alley, and a large sportsbook area for betting on sports.
Point Place Casino
This casino is located in Bridgeport, NY. It is the newest casino operated by Oneida Nation Enterprises. It is completely smoke-free. Visitors can choose from over 500 slot machines and 20 classic table games.
Other Business Ventures
The Oneida Indian Nation has bought a marina on Oneida Lake. They also own many other plots of land in the area.
The Indian Country Media Network (ICMN) was owned by the Oneida Nation of New York until 2017. This included the Indian Country Today online newspaper. In 2017, the Oneida Indian Nation gave the news organization to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). The NCAI continues to publish Indian Country Today online.
Land Lawsuits
Since the 1970s, the Oneida Indian Nation has been involved in several lawsuits about land. In the 1970s, they sued to get back land that was part of their original treaty. They argued that this land was taken illegally. Over time, the Oneida Indian Nation started buying back land in this area. They claimed that these lands should be free from county and state taxes. This led to more lawsuits before the 2013 agreement.
Land Claim Cases
In the 1970s, the Oneida Indian Nation and other Oneida tribes filed lawsuits. They said that land given to them by a treaty with New York State was taken illegally. They argued that the treaty was never approved by the U.S. Senate. This made it unconstitutional. The Oneida said they still legally owned these lands.
In 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Oneida Indian Nation in a case called Oneida Indian Nation v. County of Oneida. This meant the Oneida had the right to sue in federal courts for their land claims. The Court also said there was no time limit for these claims.
However, in 2005, in the case of City of Sherrill v. Oneida Indian Nation, the Supreme Court said something different. Even though the land might have been part of the original tribal lands, the Oneida had not controlled it for over 200 years. During this time, it was non-Indian territory. The Court said the tribe could not automatically make these re-acquired lands tax-free. To do so, the Oneida Indian Nation needed to ask the Department of the Interior to place the land into federal trust.
Putting Land into Federal Trust
In 2005, the Oneida Indian Nation asked the Department of the Interior to take their re-acquired land into federal trust. This would officially make it Indian territory. After a review, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) recommended that over 13,000 acres be placed into trust.
Some government officials were worried about creating a mix of taxable and tax-exempt properties. However, the Oneida Indian Nation pointed out that they have been a federally recognized tribe since at least 1910. The U.S. government still honors its agreements with the Oneida from the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua.
In 2013, the BIA officially accepted 13,082 acres into federal trust for the Oneida Indian Nation. New York State and the counties involved agreed to this decision. They also agreed not to challenge it in the future.
Washington Redskins Name Change
In 2013, the Oneida Indian Nation started a campaign to get the Washington Redskins football team to change its name and mascot. The Oneida leader, Ray Halbritter, launched a website called "Change the Mascot." On July 13, 2020, the Washington Redskins team agreed to public pressure. They announced they would retire their team logo and change their name.
Issues Faced by the Oneida Nation
The Oneida Indian Nation has faced challenges both from within the tribe and from outside groups.
Internal Governance Issues
Some members of the Wolf Clan have protested against Ray Halbritter's leadership. They argue that he took power and changed the traditional Oneida government. The traditional government was based on hereditary leaders who served for life. Lawsuits were filed to question his authority. However, courts have upheld his right to act on behalf of the Oneida Indian Nation.
External Issues
Outside opposition came from groups like Upstate Citizens for Equality (UCE). This group opposed the Oneida Indian Nation's land claims. They also disagreed with the Oneida Indian Nation operating businesses without paying state taxes. These issues were largely settled by the 2013 agreement.
Tax Issues
There were disagreements with New York State about the Oneida Indian Nation's businesses. The tribe did not collect or pay state taxes on sales at their resort. However, they did pay a part of their casino earnings to the state. This was part of their gaming agreement.
For example, Vernon Downs, a nearby casino, struggled because it was heavily taxed by the state. The Oneida Indian Nation argued that Vernon Downs's problems were due to high state taxes, not their own tax-free operations.
The Oneida Indian Nation used to make donations to local schools. This was meant to make up for not paying property taxes. This program was called the Silver Covenant Chain Education Grants. However, these donations sometimes stopped due to disagreements.
2013 Landmark Agreement
On May 16, 2013, a major agreement was announced. This deal was between New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Madison County, and Oneida Indian Nation leader Ray Halbritter. This agreement settled many legal issues.
Here are the main parts of the agreement:
- The Oneida Indian Nation agreed to pay 25% of its profits from new slot machines to the state. Half of this money goes to Oneida and Madison counties. This helps make up for property and sales taxes.
- The State agreed to allow up to 25,000 acres of Oneida land to be placed into federal trust. This land must be within the original Oneida reservation area from the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua. As of 2022, the Oneida Indian Nation has about 18,000 acres in trust.
- The Oneida Indian Nation received exclusive gaming rights in a 10-county area.
- All ongoing lawsuits between the Oneida Indian Nation, the state, and the counties were ended.
- The Oneida Indian Nation agreed to charge its own sales tax on cigarettes and gas sold to non-Native American buyers. This money would be paid to the state.
This agreement needed approval from many groups. These included the State Legislature, county boards, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the courts. All approvals were received by March 2014.
Revenue Sharing Agreement
Oneida County offered a revenue sharing agreement to five towns and villages most affected by the 2013 agreement. These places would receive annual payments from Oneida County. In return, they agreed not to challenge the settlement. Several towns accepted these payments.
Later, other towns and school districts asked to join the revenue sharing agreement. Oneida County tried to create a new agreement to include everyone. This caused some disagreement with the towns that had already accepted the first deal.
