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Oneidas, Washington true allies

Feb 17, 2008 @ 10:31 PM

By Ray Halbritter
Special to the Observer-Dispatch

The Oneida people and George Washington were more than friends, they were
allies in war.

As we honor the memory of George Washington on Presidents Day today, we
think back to the special relationship the Oneida Nation had with him.
Friendship works both ways and for George Washington and the Oneidas, that
was certainly true.

In the earliest part of the American Revolution, the Oneida Indian Nation
made a choice. They decided to ally with their neighbors and friends, the
colonists. In particular, George Washington. Though the colonists could
offer the Oneida Nation neither supplies, great riches nor protection, our
Nation chose to be the first to stand for the American cause of freedom.
Allying ourselves with the colonists resulted in fighting against some of
our fellow Iroquois brothers.

The decision to stay true to the colonists cost the Oneidas dearly. The
Oneidas sacrificed much to the cause of freedom, including having their
villages burned and being driven from their homelands. Throughout the war,
the greatest sacrifice was the loss of lives. It has been said that the
greatest sacrifice is laying down one’s life for another. By the end of the
war, one-third of the Oneida population had been lost.

The Oneidas fought side-by-side with the colonists at key Revolutionary
War. Battlefields such as Oriskany, Saratoga and Barren Hill. Courageous
Oneida scouts provided much-needed reconnaissance throughout the war. The
striking red in the American flag memorializes the blood shed of patriots,
colonists and Oneida warriors alike. It was their blood that was spilled to
free the colonies from the tyranny of the British Crown.

During the bleak winter of 1777-78, the Oneida people once again rallied to
the aid of their friends. During this time, while at Valley Forge, Gen.
Washington and his troops were desolate and near starvation. The great
Oneida chief, Shenendoah, organized the life-giving gift of corn. The corn
was taken directly from the meager Oneida food reserves and offered to
relieve the suffering of Washington’s troops. The Oneidas, on foot, carried
that corn hundreds of miles from their homes in Central New York to
southeastern Pennsylvania. A heroic Oneida woman, Polly Cooper, stayed to
show the soldiers how to prepare the white Indian corn which differed from
today’s hybrid yellow corn with which most of us are familiar.

Though she actually refused payment to do her duty, history tells us that
Martha Washington presented to Polly Cooper a bonnet and shawl. That shawl
survives to this day and is a wonderful reminder of our bond with the
colonists, our friendship with George Washington and our sacrifices for the
cause of freedom in establishing the United States of America.

Recent historical research conducted by Dr. Anthony Wonderley documented
the encounter between Washington and two Oneidas near Schenectady while
Washington was touring New York State on July 27, 1783. The Oneidas
presented a letter to Washington asking him to come to their aid as he had
promised. In the wake of a war where they sacrificed and lost much, the
Oneida people requested supplies for hunting so that they could provide
food for their people and return to their homelands. In that
well-documented meeting, Washington promised hunting supplies, such as
gunpowder and lead for the Oneida people.

George Washington, the man who would not tell a lie, kept his word to the
Oneida people. He provided the supplies for hunting and promised a
reservation of 250,000 acres in Central New York for the Oneida Nation when
he placed his Presidential signature upon the Treaty of Canandaigua (1794).
That treaty is the oldest treaty still recognized as a valid treaty by the
federal government with an annual distribution of treaty cloth that has
been made to the Oneida people for over two centuries among other important
provisions. Though the Oneida lands were lost through illegal land
transactions after Washington’s presidency, his promise to the Oneida
Nation still stands as a true historic fact today.

George Washington was a great man, a great leader, a great president and a
true man of his word. He was our friend and the Oneida people were a friend
to him and our country. We are today proud to honor this great man and his
works.

Ray Halbritter is Oneida Nation representative and chief executive officer.