Legends and Lore

IMAGE Chipmunk and stripes

How the Chipmunk got its Stripes

As Haudenosaunee legends were passed down from generation to generation, the stories took on many variations. The legends we present here are only one version of these ageless stories. Read More »

IMAGE How the leaves change colors

Autumn Color

In this version of a Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) legend, we learn how the autumn leaves get their color. Read More »

The Hermit Thrush

In this version of an Oneida legend a vibrant mosaic complete with birds of every type is created. Read More »

Honoring Women

Honoring women has been an integral part of Oneida and Haudenosaunee culture since time immemorial. Read More »

DRAWING medicine

The Last Treatment


Storytelling is an important component of the Oneida’s oral tradition. Some stories are intended to teach a lesson, and they are passed from generation to generation to show others how behave, how to act, and how to properly care for each other.

Liz Roberts (Wolf Clan) shared a story about an encounter her great-grandmother experienced.
Read More »

DRAWING -- seeing things?

What did he see?

The Oneida oral tradition is filled with wonderful tales from our Elders which knit generations together through stories. Read More »

Conservation: A Haudenosaunee View

The Haudenosaunee have long known the importance of conserving Mother Earth’s bounty. Read More »

The Legend of the No Face Doll

Since that time, the Haudenosaunee people do not put a face on their corn husk dolls. This is to remind people, never to think that they are better than anyone else or a great punishment will fall upon them. Read More »

The Legend of How the Bear Lost Its Tail

The legend of How the Bear Lost Its Tail is one of many traditional Haudenosaunee stories told from generation to generation. Read More »

How the Clans were Chosen

The legend of how clans were chosen is believed to have its origins in the Haudenosaunee mourning process. Read More »

Legend of the Mosquitoes

Every year as the warm weather returns, an unpleasant accompaniment to balmy climes also makes a reappearance – the mosquitoes. The Haudenosaunee have an explanation as to why these pesky creatures torment people during the milder months. Read More »

The Great Spirit

The Oneida People have always esteemed their Elders. The Oneidas have traditionally believed much can be learned by listening to the advice of those with years of living experience. Read More »

Legend of Thunder Boy

Thunder Boy is a legend told by the Haudenosaunee to explain the existence of the rumbling in the sky that often accompanies spring rains. Read More »

Celebrate the Strawberry

The strawberry – Aw⋀hihte’ in Oneida – has long been a revered gift of the Creator in Oneida culture. Read More »

How Medicines Came to the Haudenosaunee

Among the People of the Longhouse, the bear symbolizes gentleness and strength. The Bear Clan is attuned to spiritual well-being and medicinal healing, and the health of each village has rested in the hands of Bear Clan medicine women since time immemorial. Here is the story of how the women of the Bear Clan were chosen to learn the healing powers of the flora around them. Read More »

More Latest News

Pressroom