About the Oneida Indians
The Oneida Indians are a Native American tribe based in upstate New York. They are one of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee, a constitutional federation of equal sovereign states whose origins predate the United Nations by almost a millennium. As a tribe, the Oneida are known for their historically good relations with the United States and their present-day success in the casino business. Currently, their numbers are estimated to be around 100,000.
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The Facts
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As a member nation of the Haudenosaunee, or "People of the Longhouse," the Oneida Indians trace their modern origins to around 1000 A.D., when the Great Peacemaker appeared and ended all warfare among the Five Nations. A confederacy based on peace and equality was established for the common good, and the Oneida were accorded nine of the 50 seats that make up the Longhouse, or intertribal government.
History of
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The Oneida Indians have always been an independent-minded people. One of the few historical exceptions to the peaceful coexistence of the Haudenosaunee occurred during the American Revolutionary War. At first, the Six Nations all did their best to maintain neutrality in the matter, but eventually the fog of war forced the tribes to pick sides. The Oneida were the only Haudenosaunee tribe to devote warriors to the rebel cause; the other five nations sided with the British. For their contributions to American independence, the Oneida were treated little better than their royalist colleagues. Over the course of the next two centuries, they lost millions of acres of land to ambiguous treaties and stealth takeovers. Like their fellow natives, the Oneida have been waging constant war in U.S. courts to reclaim that land, to little effect.
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Evolution
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Since the early 1990s, the Oneida Indians have improved their lot significantly, largely by operating casinos and high-stakes bingo halls, as well as selling tax-free tobacco and gasoline. The revenues fund their public school system, universal health care, and tribal infrastructure. This newfound wealth has divided the tribe along philosophical lines. Some argue that prosperity is good for the tribe, while others wonder whether it is eclipsing the Oneida identity.
Geography
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The Oneida Indians are located primarily in upstate New York, Wisconsin and Canada. They have reservations in all three states. Their traditional homeland was a vast swath of land in and around Oneida County, especially in the areas surrounding Oneida Lake. To their east was the territory of the Onondaga Indians; to the west lived the Mohawks. Many Oneida fled to Wisconsin and Canada during the 18th and 19th centuries due to the eastward expansion of European settlements.
Expert Insight
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The Oneida are avid lacrosse players, but as with many Haudenosaunee activities, there is also a spiritual element to the sport. According to oral tradition, the Creator enjoys watching the Oneida play lacrosse, as do the Thunders, or rain spirits. It is even used as a healing ritual for people who are sick, either spiritually or physically.
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