Oren Lyons facts for kids

Oren R. Lyons Jr. (born 1930) is an important leader and spiritual guide (called a Faithkeeper) for the Onondaga Nation and the Seneca Nation. These nations are part of the Haudenosaunee people. He belongs to the Wolf Clan.

For over 14 years, he has worked with the United Nations to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples. He has also held many other leadership roles.

Oren Lyons was a famous lacrosse player at Syracuse University. After college, he became a strong voice for Native American rights. He even started the Haudenosaunee lacrosse team. Later, he became a professor at the University at Buffalo.

Early Life and Sports Career

Oren Lyons was born in 1930. He grew up learning the traditions of the Seneca and Onondaga nations in New York State.

Oren Lyons dancing at a campfire in 1947.

In the summers of 1947 and 1948, he worked as a junior counselor at Camp Onondaga in New York.

Lyons served in the United States Army. He earned a scholarship to play lacrosse at Syracuse University. He was recognized for his achievements in both school and sports. In 1958, he graduated from the College of Fine Arts.

Oren Lyons was an amazing lacrosse player. He was named an All-American at Syracuse. His team went undefeated in his final year. Famous athlete Jim Brown was also on his team.

After college, Lyons continued to play lacrosse for several teams. He played for the New York Lacrosse Club from 1959 to 1965. He also played for the New Jersey Lacrosse Club and the Onondaga Athletic Club.

Art and Teaching

After graduating, Oren Lyons worked in commercial art in New York City. He was an art and planning director for a greeting card company. He also showed his own paintings in art exhibits.

In 1970, Lyons moved back to Onondaga. He wanted to be closer to his cultural heritage.

Later, he became a respected teacher at the University at Buffalo. He taught American Studies to many students. He is now known as a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and Professor Emeritus.

Working for Indigenous Rights

In the 1960s, Oren Lyons joined the Red Power movement. This movement worked to improve the lives of Native Americans. He traveled across "Indian Country" to talk about traditional tribal values.

In 1972, he helped lead the Trail of Broken Treaties. This was a journey to Washington, D.C.. The goal was to convince the government to honor its agreements with Native American tribes.

In 1971, Lyons met musicians John Lennon and Yoko Ono. They wanted to help protest a highway expansion through the Onondaga Reservation.

In 1977, Lyons helped start the Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth. This group meets every year in different Native American communities. In the same year, he was part of the Haudenosaunee group at the first World Conference on Racism.

Oren Lyons explained his work by saying, "At first, I wanted to defend the Iroquois. Then my sights broadened to embrace other Indians. Then I saw this had to include defending indigenous peoples all over the world."

In 1981, he traveled to New Zealand. He attended an Indigenous festival called Nambassa. There, he gave talks and workshops. He worked with Maori activists on land rights. He shared his experiences as a Native American.

For over 14 years, he has attended meetings in Geneva for Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations. He helped create the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982. He is also a key figure in the Traditional Circle of Indian Elders.

In 1990, he helped negotiate during the Oka crisis. This was a disagreement between the Mohawk people and the governments of Canada, Quebec, and New York State.

In 1992, Lyons spoke to the General Assembly of the United Nations. He opened the International Year of the World's Indigenous Peoples.

Featured in Films

Oren Lyons has appeared in several films.

• He was featured in the documentary Faithkeeper (1991). This film was shown on PBS.
• He also appeared in the documentary The 11th Hour (2007). This film was directed by Leila Connors and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Awards and Honors

Oren Lyons has received many awards for his work and his lacrosse playing.

• He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Syracuse University.
• He serves on the board of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development.
• He is chairman of Honoring Contributions in the Governance of American Indian Nations.

Some of his other awards include:

• The Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
• The National Audubon Society's Audubon Medal.
• The Earth Day International Award from the United Nations.
• The Elder and Wiser Award from the Rosa Parks Institute for Human Rights.
• In 2022, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Indian Gaming Association's Tradeshow.

He has also been highly recognized for his lacrosse skills:

• In 1988, he was inducted into the Syracuse University Hall of Fame.
• In 1989, the NCAA named him Man of the Year in Lacrosse.
• In 1993, he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
• In 1998, he was inducted into the Ontario, Canada Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
• In 2000, he was inducted into the Upstate New York Chapter of USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
• In 2008, he was inducted into the Native American Hall of Fame.
• In 2023, he received the Order of Sport. This means he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame for building his sport.
• He is the Honorary Chairman of the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team.

Books by Oren Lyons

Besides his own writings, Oren Lyons has helped illustrate children's books by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve. He has written about Indigenous issues, economic growth, and spiritual culture. He is also the publisher of Daybreak Magazine.

Books he has written or contributed to:

• Lyons, Oren, and others. Exiled in the Land of the Free: Democracy, Indian Nations and the U.S. Constitution. Santa Fe: Clear Light Publications, 1992/reprint1998. ISBN: 978-0-940666-50-4.
• Lyons, Oren. Wilderness in Native American Culture. Boise: University of Idaho Wilderness Research Center, 1989.
• Lyons, Oren, author. Voice of Indigenous Peoples: Native People Address the United Nations, Ewen, Alexander, ed.; Santa Fe: Clear Light Publications, 1993. ISBN: 978-0-940666-31-3.
• Lyons, Oren, contributor, "Listening to Natural Law." in Spiritual Ecology, Vaughan-Lee, Llewellyn, ed.; Point Reyes: The Golden Sufi Center, 2013.

Children's books he illustrated or wrote:

• Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk, author, and Oren Lyons, illustrator. Jimmy Yellow Hawk. Holiday House, 1972.
• Lyons, Oren, author and illustrator. Dog Story. Holiday House, 1973.
• Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk, author, and Oren Lyons, illustrator. When Thunders Spoke. Bison Books, 1993. ISBN: 978-0-8032-9220-8.
• Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk, author, and Oren Lyons, illustrator. High Elk's Treasure. Holiday House, 1995. ISBN: 978-0-8234-0212-0.

Other books he contributed to:

• Gluckstein, Dana, author; Amnesty International, epilogue; Oren Lyons, introduction; Archbishop Desmond Tutu, foreword. Dignity: In Honor of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. powerHouse Books, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-57687-562-9
• Jorgensen, William, ed.; Oren Lyons, foreword. Rebuilding Native Nations: Strategies for Governance and Development. University of Arizona Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-8165-2423-5.

See also

In Spanish: Oren Lyons para niños

• List of indigenous artists of the Americas