Onondaga Reservation

Religion of the Six Nation Tribes

The Six Nations have distinct religious practices, characterized by their council houses where both Christian and pagan ceremonies occur. The Christian population is notably concentrated along central roads in various reservations, with several churches reflecting differing denominations. Pagan traditions persist alongside new religious movements, particularly influenced by Handsome Lake’s teachings. The spiritual life of the Six Nations is marked by communal dances and rituals, emphasizing gratitude to the Great Spirit while simultaneously confronting the social and political implications of their faiths.

List of Occupants of the Onondaga Reservation, Onondaga County, New York

Onondaga Reservation Map, 1890

The Onondaga Reservation in Onondaga County, New York, spans approximately 6,100 acres and features essential facilities such as a hotel, store, and post office at Onondaga Castle. The reservation is characterized by limestone quarries, though cultivation is limited, with only about half of the land actively farmed. Much of the cultivated land is leased to white individuals, providing income to Native owners. The varied terrain includes stony hills and fertile lands, impacting agricultural productivity and community livelihoods.

Reservations of the Six Nations in New York and Pennsylvania, 1723-1890

Map of the Country of the Five Nations

In 1771, Governor William Tryon prepared a map delineating the recognized boundaries of the Six Nations, later referenced by Lewis H. Morgan in 1851 to depict the villages and trails of the Five Nations. By 1890, the Oneida and Cayuga tribes had lost their ancestral lands in New York, retaining only small remnants. Various treaties led to significant land reductions for the Oneidas. The Six Nations’ reservations were organized under New York law, reflecting both traditional customs and modern governance challenges faced by their communities.

Census of Oneida Indians at Onondaga Reservation, New York, 1896

A June 1896 census of the Oneida Tribe at the Onondaga Reservation in New York lists 173 people recorded for the United States Indian Agent. The roster includes families such as Antone, Bread, Doxtator, George, Johnson, Powles, Scanandoah, and Webster, offering a detailed snapshot of the community at that time.

Iroquois Tribe

The Iroquois, also known as the Five Nations, comprised the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, and Seneca tribes, united in a political body called Oñgwanonsioñni around 1570. Their society emphasized matrilineal descent, with chiefs appointed through female nomination. The confederation allowed the Iroquois to extend their influence across a vast territory, engaging in conflicts primarily against the French and Algonquians. Despite declines from wars and disease, the population has since rebounded, with Iroquois communities now primarily located in New York and Ontario.