HISTORY of the Oneidas
The Iroquois Nation had a strong developed system of government. There was a representative for each nation who were sent to the council. The Oneidas had three clans; the wolf, the turtle, and the bear. Each clan had a sachem (representative) who was appointed by the clan mother to hold office for life. The council was responsible for making the important decisions for the clan, so it was important for each of the sachems to agree or compromise on an issue. This organized way of life was to be an important factor of the clans survival as the white man began and continued to move into their lands.
More and more white men were making their way to America. The Iroquois people were trading with them and the fur business rapidly grew, but the white men were becoming more and more interested in buying the land from the Iroquois people and began to take advantage of them -- losing their land and receiving little for it. There were other Indian nations also driven out of their lands more south of the Iroquois. Nations such as the Tuscaroras, the Tutelo, and the Mahicans who then moved in with the Iroquois.
DISEASE
All Indian people suffered because of the disease that the white man brought to America. The Native Americans never encountered diseases like smallpox or measles and had no immunity against them that the white men from Europe had. Even so, the sicknesses were present, and thousands of Indians were killed.
The treatments for the illnesses was done by special people in the tribe who were able to cure the unknown. These people wore special wooden masks called false faces to represent powers in the universe that are able to scare out the bad spirits that enter a sick person's body.
WARS
In the 1700's the lives of everyone in America were affected by the two wars that took place - especially the Oneida Tribe. During the French and Indian War (the first war), the Oneida tribes fought on the side of the British. Other nations in the Iroquois Confederation fought on the side of the French. After this war ended, the Oneidas were no longer a close part of the Iroquois family.
After this war in 1765, Samuel Kirkland approached the Oneidas and began teaching them the Christian religion. He wanted for them to forget about their beliefs and follow him. Some of the Oneidas became Christians and some of them did not.
The Revolutionary War (the second war), was between the British and the Americans. The Americans wanted the British to leave America as it was, and wanted nothing to do with the King of England making their rules. Unfortunately, some of the Oneidas fought for the British while others fought for the Americans.
By the end of this war, the Oneida people were harshly divided and almost totally destroyed, for they had no one person to lead them and their lands were near nonexistent. The Oneidas no longer lived together in one area.
DISEASE
All Indian people suffered because of the disease that the white man brought to America. The Native Americans never encountered diseases like smallpox or measles and had no immunity against them that the white men from Europe had. Even so, the sicknesses were present, and thousands of Indians were killed.
The treatments for the illnesses was done by special people in the tribe who were able to cure the unknown. These people wore special wooden masks called false faces to represent powers in the universe that are able to scare out the bad spirits that enter a sick person's body.
WARS
In the 1700's the lives of everyone in America were affected by the two wars that took place - especially the Oneida Tribe. During the French and Indian War (the first war), the Oneida tribes fought on the side of the British. Other nations in the Iroquois Confederation fought on the side of the French. After this war ended, the Oneidas were no longer a close part of the Iroquois family.
After this war in 1765, Samuel Kirkland approached the Oneidas and began teaching them the Christian religion. He wanted for them to forget about their beliefs and follow him. Some of the Oneidas became Christians and some of them did not.
The Revolutionary War (the second war), was between the British and the Americans. The Americans wanted the British to leave America as it was, and wanted nothing to do with the King of England making their rules. Unfortunately, some of the Oneidas fought for the British while others fought for the Americans.
By the end of this war, the Oneida people were harshly divided and almost totally destroyed, for they had no one person to lead them and their lands were near nonexistent. The Oneidas no longer lived together in one area.
in 1816 a man named Eleazer Williams suggested that the Oneidas follow him and move to Wisconsin. He told the tribe that they needed to be distanced from the white man so that they could regroup and save their culture. Some of the Oneidas felt that Williams only wanted to rule their tribe and sell the land that they still possessed to the white people for his personal benefit.
Either way, in 1820, a group of Oneidas and Williams arrived to Wisconsin and began negotiating for land near Green Bay. After some issues, they were finally able to buy and area of Wisconsin which is now around the city of Oneida. In the next few years, several hundreds of Oneidas along with a select few of other tribes moved into an area of 4 million acres around the Fox River.
This area was similar to the area that they left. The tribe was now able to fish, hunt, and gather berries and nuts. Farming was now a way of life again. Corn remained the main food to their diet, and the Oneida people made money by selling the berries, braided corn husk mats, maple syrup, and lumber.
Either way, in 1820, a group of Oneidas and Williams arrived to Wisconsin and began negotiating for land near Green Bay. After some issues, they were finally able to buy and area of Wisconsin which is now around the city of Oneida. In the next few years, several hundreds of Oneidas along with a select few of other tribes moved into an area of 4 million acres around the Fox River.
This area was similar to the area that they left. The tribe was now able to fish, hunt, and gather berries and nuts. Farming was now a way of life again. Corn remained the main food to their diet, and the Oneida people made money by selling the berries, braided corn husk mats, maple syrup, and lumber.