A Time To Remember
Treaty Of Canandaigua
As Alive Today As It Was In 1794
On North Main Street in the City of Canandaigua, the Ontario County Court House looms impressively. The domed structure boasts a golden statue of blind justice holding scales and sword, a reminder to passers-by of the equity of the law. This spot is a fitting place for such a building, for on its grounds is Council Rock, where the paramount Treaty of Canandaigua was signed between the Oneida Nation and other members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the United States in 1794.
Through the Treaty of Canandaigua, the Oneidas received special protection for their lands and continued recognition of the Nation's sovereignty. The Oneidas' agreement varied from that accorded other nations of the Confederacy, because the Oneidas sided with the colonists during the American Revolutionary War, fighting as the new nation's first allies.
"The treaty is important to the Nation to this day as a direct connection to our past," said Brian Patterson, Bear Clan Representative to the Nation's Men's Council. "The Oneida People believe our word is our bond. Further, the treaty affirms the rights and privileges we always enjoyed as a people."
This treaty is held sacred by the Nation and is symbolically remembered by the yearly allocation of treaty cloth to Oneida Members from the federal government. The treaty cloth is continued affirmation that the agreement between the United States and the Oneida Nation remains alive, a binding law.
The accord recognizes the sovereignty of all six nations of the Confederacy and assures that peace and friendship will exist between the Oneida, Onondaga, Mohawk, Cayuga, Tuscarora and Seneca nations and the United States. To celebrate the accord, each Nov. 11 the Treaty Commemoration Committee sponsors a parade and other celebratory activities in this small city located on the shores of Seneca Lake. Visitors can also view the actual treaty, housed in the Ontario County Historical Society, one block from the court house on North Main.
Two copies of the treaty were drawn in 1794, one copy for the confederacy, which is displayed at the historical society, and the other, the U.S. government's, in Washington, D.C. in the National Archives. The document, signed by George Washington, remains as tangible proof of the viability of the accord.
"The treaty is over 200 years old but is still in existence," said Bruce Stewart, a board member of both the Treaty Commemoration Committee and the historical society. "It is a living document."
The committee promotes the treaty throughout the year by offering educational programs in local schools. Stewart said the committee also tries to educate the public by keeping the tenets of the treaty in the forefront. The treaty's message, said Stewart, is that Indian nations are separate and have a binding agreement with the United States, which must be honored.
"The Federal government would just as soon forget the treaty," said Stewart. "That's why it's important that we provide education. Another issue is people's apathy. Some non-Indians don't care about the treaty or would like to see the Indians go away, which is not going to happen."
To a large degree, many Native Americans are familiar with treaties, but the non-Native American population often is not knowledgeable on these issues, said Stewart. The committee, which is comprised of both Native Americans and non-Native Americans, is trying to help people understand the significance of the treaty.
The treaty, said Stewart, states specifically that the Oneidas, and the other five of the Six Nations, will not be disturbed, and the nations continually refer to the treaty as law. "The treaty has been tested several times, but always stands up in court," said Stewart.
The parade held each year underscores the treaty's continuity to present day. This year the Oneida Nation's Color Guard will once again participate. The Color Guard includes Clint Hill (Turtle Clan), Carl Fogelberg (Turtle Clan), Gil Stout (Turtle Clan) and Mandy Glass (Bear Clan).
The day-long celebration is multi-layered, beginning at Canandaigua's primary school at 10 a.m. with refreshments. Around 1 p.m. the group assembles to march to Council Rock, where anyone who wishes is encouraged to speak. Afterwards, everyone is invited to the city's middle school to browse through booths of Native American vendors and to partake of a sit-down dinner.
Last year, said Stewart, more than 400 people attended the event, which included a dinner of corn soup, buffalo stew and other traditional Native American fare. A social dance followed to complete the day's festivities. "This is a real participatory event," said Stewart. The entire day is sponsored by the committee with all refreshments, including the dinner, free of charge.
The event is an opportunity to honor the treaty and to reach out and educate, said Stewart. And education is necessary because some information concerning Native Americans is erroneous or incomplete, he said. An example of the lack of information available to school-age children is evident when the historical society offers exhibits on various Native American themes, said Stewart.
"A lot of the area kids who come on tours don't even realize there are Native Americans living here in town," said Stewart. "They envision Native Americans as people they see only on TV. We are trying to help people understand that Native Americans are still living here today. It's important that people understand who Native Americans are and that they are recognized for their contributions."
Stewart began his personal awareness campaign after he retired from a career as an airline pilot. Digging into his family's genealogy, he learned more about the history of Ontario County and his Quaker forbearers. The Quakers were greatly involved with their Native American neighbors and were present at the signing of the Treaty of Canandaigua, acting as both translators and insurers of fair treatment, said Stewart.
Stewart's participation on the commemoration committee links him to his Quaker predecessors, who sought fairness for their neighbors. The parade sponsored by the committee honors both the Treaty of Canandaigua and those who signed it, while recognizing its importance now and in the future.
Note: The text of the Treaty of Canandaigua may also be found on the Oneida Nation's Web Site at under the title of Treaties Project.
View the Treaty | About the Annuity Cloth
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