Government Structure

The Oneida Nation is composed of approximately 1,000 enrolled Members, about half of whom live in Central New York. Nation Members belong to one of three family clans – Turtle, Wolf or Bear. Both Nation membership and clan membership are determined through the mother's bloodline. Each clan chooses representatives to the governing body, the Nation Council. Tradition requires both the Nation's leaders and its Members to consider the impact on the next seven generations when making decisions. The Nation is headed by a federally recognized Representative. That position is held today by Ray Halbritter.

Economic Initiatives

The Oneida Indian Nation operates a variety of businesses to fund its government programs. These enterprises include:

Gaming and Hospitality:

Turning Stone Resort and Casino, a destination resort featuring world class gaming, more than 700 hotel rooms and suites, RV park, three nationally-ranked 18-hole championship golf courses and two nine-hole courses, an indoor golf training center, 19 restaurants, Skaná Spa offering Native American treatments, entertainment and conference facilities. Turning Stone has earned AAA four-diamond ratings for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel and Wildflowers restaurant. The Atunyote Golf Club is the annual host of The Turning Stone Resort Championship, an official PGA TOUR event. Turning Stone's entertainment and meeting venues which include the 5,000-seat Event Center, the 800-seat Showroom and the Conference Center. These venues host many of the nation's top entertainers each year, as well as special events such as trade shows and cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs.

Retail and Agriculture:

Twelve SāvOn Convenience stores; Car Care; three marinas; two Name Brand Deals deep discount stores; and 1,300-head Angus beef operation, one of the largest beef herds on the East Coast.

Four Directions Media, Inc:

A publishing company that produces the award-winning newspaper Indian Country Today; 4D Productions, a HD cinematography/3D animation studio that in 2007 produced “Raccoon and Crawfish, an award-winning animated short; Standing Stone Records; and Four Directions Talent, a clearinghouse for American Indian artists in the film and television industry.

Economic Impact

These enterprises and the Nation's government programs employ nearly 5,000 people (most of them non-Native), making the Oneida Nation the largest employer in Oneida and Madison counties and the fourth-largest employer in the 16 counties of Central New York (only Cornell University in Ithaca, Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse and Syracuse University employ more people). The Nation's workforce earned more than $130 million in wages and bonuses during the fiscal year.

In 2007, the Nation spent more than $328 million with other businesses, including about $119 million in Central New York for goods/services and $37.4 million on construction and capital improvement projects.

Government Programs and Services

Proceeds from the Nation's enterprises are funneled into essential services for Oneida Members. The success of these enterprises also allows the Nation's government to reduce its reliance on outside funding. In 1999, the Oneida Nation became the first Indian government in the country to return federal funding to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The Nation's services to Members include:



• A comprehensive health clinic, open to all Native Americans in a six-county area.
  
• Education scholarships and tuition assistance programs for everything from preparatory schools to post-doctoral work.
  
• A congregate meals and enrichment program for Nation Elders.
  
• An early childhood learning center.
  
• A multi-faceted recreation and youth development program.
  Continuing cultural education initiatives, including Oneida language and dance classes.
  
• The Village of the White Pines, a residential community providing affordable housing for Members.
  
• The Ray Elm Children and Elders Center, centerpiece of the Village of the White Pines and home to a variety of programs targeted for these key populations.
  
• Infrastructure improvements, including road repairs, sewer and water lines and beautification programs.
  
  The mission of the Oneida People is to restore their Nation to the strength and stability it enjoyed before Europeans landed on the shores of this country. The Oneida Nation is well on its way to achieving this goal.