The Oneida people’s resiliency has allowed us to reclaim our homelands, revitalize our culture and work toward a brighter future for all Nation Members. Through a great deal of hard work and perseverance, we have made clear the pivotal role of the Oneida Indian Nation in Upstate New York.
Where It All Began
After a storied start with irregular bingo games in multiple bingo halls, the Oneida Indian Nation opened a new home for High-Stakes Bingo on May 17, 1990 on Territory Road and has been hosting bingo games ever since.
In 1993, following the success of its bingo operation and drive-through smoke shop, the Oneida Indian Nation opened the doors to Turning Stone Casino on reacquired lands in Verona under the Nation’s first gaming compact with New York State. The opening of Turning Stone created hundreds of jobs and increased tourism spending for the region, which spurred further economic development for the Nation.
Community Partnerships
The Oneida legacy of strong partnerships began when the Oneidas became the First Allies of the United States and continues today as the Oneida Indian Nation joins forces with a variety of community stakeholders to build a strong Central New York. The Oneida Indian Nation has worked to develop a constructive relationship with our neighbors, understanding that the success of the region relies on a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect.
We have instilled a collaborative culture, pulling from the ideology of our ancestors, in our quest to create a better path for today’s Oneidas, our regional neighbors and generations for years to come.
A Historic Agreement
On May 16, 2013, the Oneida Indian Nation, the State of New York and Madison and Oneida Counties signed a historic agreement that officially ended all land, tax and gaming disputes.
Signed almost exactly twenty years after New York’s first gaming compact with the Oneida Indian Nation, the 2013 agreement honors the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua’s original declaration that “peace and friendship shall be perpetual” between the Nation and its surrounding communities.
Our Story, Memorialized
Beyond our own facilities and programs that promote our culture and shared heritage with the United States, the Oneida people have taken a leadership role in supporting the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. and the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia to memorialize our rich history as America’s First Allies for future generations.
Our ties to the region also are memorialized with a bronze sculpture and public artwork located in the City of Rome that commemorates the historic Oneida Carrying Place, a vital mode of transportation, trade and commerce before and during the Revolutionary War.
