A Message from the Oneida Nation Council

The Oneida Nation reached another milestone in 2008, celebrating the 15th anniversary of Turning Stone Resort and Casino. The resort is the catapult that led to the Nation’s economic renaissance, a renaissance that has helped to elevate our people from the throes of poverty onto the path to a brighter tomorrow.

Today, opportunities abound for Oneidas. No longer is the hope for an advanced education merely a dream. Now, through the Nation’s education scholarships, Oneidas have been enrolling in college, in steadily increasing numbers each year. To date, nearly 150 Oneidas have earned college degrees from associate to doctoral levels, with an additional 77 currently working toward diplomas.

Our youngest Oneidas are reaping the benefits of an education at the prestigious Manlius Pebble Hill School. Oneida children from K through 12 who meet the school’s entrance requirements are provided with scholarships to support their academic endeavors at the nationally known preparatory school.

While striving to provide for the future of our people by investing in education, we as a Nation never forget those who preceded us. Our Elders enjoy a special status in our culture, and it is the Nation’s honor to offer programs and services specific to their needs, from housing to luncheons, conferences, and activities.

And as our elders have instructed us, we continue to respect our rich history, including reclaiming artifacts of significance to our people. In 2008, we took possession of several artifacts purchased from an amateur archaeologist. These items will be safeguarded for future generations, to ensure they remember the skills of their ancestors.

Just as we wish to safeguard for future generations the vastness of our history, so too do we as a people wish to share our culture and traditions with others. To that end, we sponsored a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®. “The True Spirit of Thanksgiving” celebrated all Indian people on this holiday so intrinsically linked with the First Americans.

There could be no more fitting end to 2008 than this vivid display, an embodiment of an ancient and proud heritage that remains strong and vibrant today.