Oneida Indian Nation and Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian Honor Oneida Heroine Polly Cooper for America's 250th
[Washington, DC – 22 July 2026] In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian partnered with the Oneida Indian Nation to present "First Allies: Polly Cooper and the Oneida Indian Nation"at the Museum on July 22, 2026. The program honored the Oneida Indian Nation's alliance with the American colonists during the Revolutionary War and recognized the enduring legacy of Polly Cooper, an Oneida heroine who helped prevent George Washington's army from starving during their Winter at Valley Forge.
A bipartisan group of legislators including Kansas Congresswoman and Co-Chair of the Native American Caucus Sharice Davids, New York Senator Kirstin Gillibrand, New York Congressmen Andrew Garbarino, Mike Lawler, Tim Kennedy, John Mannion, and Nick Langworthy, all spoke at the event, which explored the often-overlooked contributions of the Oneida Indian Nation to the country's founding and highlighted Indigenous perspectives on American history through cultural demonstrations, historical interpretation, and community engagement.
The event included traditional Oneida social dances and food demonstrations from Oneida elders; a showcase of the free resources available through the Smithsonian’s Native Knowledge 360° educational initiative; a screening of People of the Standing Stone: The Oneida Nation, the War for Independence, and the Making of America, narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Costner; and a closer look at the sculpture "Allies in War, Partners in Peace," a gift from the Oneida Indian Nation for the National Museum of the American Indian's opening in 2004 that depicts Polly Copper flanked by Oneida Chief Shenendoah and General George Washington.
“As we celebrate the 250th anniversary, it is important that we recognize the full spectrum of those who made possible the United States’ founding, honoring the sacrifices made to achieve our enduring freedoms,” said Oneida Indian Nation Representative, Ray Halbritter. “Oneida ancestors were America’s first allies because they believed then, as we do now, that all people have an inherent right to sovereignty and self-determination.”
“When the United States fought for independence, Native people were not simply standing by watching as history unfolded, Native people were part of making that history,’ said U.S. Sharice Davids (KS-3). “And Polly Cooper is absolutely one of those people. Polly Cooper didn’t ask for recognition, Polly Cooper didn’t ask for payment, she simply did what she believed to be the right thing to do. I think that is one of the reasons her story has endured for generations.”
“The stories of New York, America and the Oneida Indian Nation have been deeply intertwined since our nation’s founding,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY). “The Oneida people were not bystanders to our revolution but were rather active participants in our quest for freedom. As American’s celebrate our 250th anniversary, we must make sure this alliance is remembered, recognized and reciprocated.”
“As we mark 250 years of our nation’s history, we must remember everyone who helped make that possible,” said U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (NY-2). “The Oneida Indian Nation stood with the United States during the Revolutionary War, and their support for the Continental Army is an important part of our nation’s history that should continue to be recognized. Our work with tribal nations did not end 250 years ago. We have a responsibility to continue building strong partnerships today. Congress has an obligation to support practical bi-partisan efforts that respect tribal sovereignty and help strengthen communities.”
“As we continue to celebrate our nation’s semi-quincentennial we should recognize those whose contributions were too often overlooked, said U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17). “The Polly Cooper Commemorative Coin and today’s program help ensure that future generations will learn about her remarkable story and the lasting contributions of the Oneida Indian Nation to our country’s founding.”
“Too often the indispensable role of Native nations has been left in the margins of the history books rather than the place where it belongs, at the very heart of the American story,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy (NY-26). “The Oneida people did not simply bear witness to American history, they made it.”
“As our country marks our 250th anniversary of independence it’s especially important that we tell the full story, the true story, of how that independence was won,” said U.S. Rep. John Mannion (NY-22). “As was said, Oneida history is American history. The story we are here to recognize today is foundational to the story of the United States of America.”
“Earlier this year the United States Mint released the 2026 Native American $1 coin honoring Polly Cooper," Mannion continued. “That recognition was long overdue. It will help introduce to millions of Americans her name, her courage, her critical role in the Oneida Indian Nation, and her critical role in American history.
Telling the truth requires us to acknowledge not only that extraordinary generosity and good faith shown by the Oneida people, but it also must acknowledge that generosity and good faith was not always returned. The United States and the State of New York repeatedly conducted actions where treaties were broken and promises were ignored. Native lands were taken, Native voices were silenced and Native people were marginalized in the very nation that they helped create.
That’s why today’s program and the work here at the Museum are so important. People from across the country will walk through these doors, will learn about Polly Cooper, the Oneida Indian Nation and the often-overlooked contributions that Native nations and Native Americans have played in American independence and beyond.”
“You cannot mention America’s allies without speaking the name Polly Cooper, an Oneida heroine whose courage and selflessness helped make the American independence possible,” said U.S. Representative Nick Langworthy (NY-23). “Without allies like Polly Cooper and the Oneida, the American experiment, the greatest experiment in self-government and freedom that the world has ever known, may not have ever survived its earliest test.”
During the winter of 1777–78, Polly Cooper and other Oneidas traveled more than two hundred miles to deliver corn to General George Washington’s hungry soldiers. Cooper stayed even after the rest of the relief party departed and refused payment for her contributions. Oneida oral tradition tells that she later joined soldiers’ wives, including Martha Washington, to shop in Philadelphia, where the wives bought a shawl and bonnet for Cooper; the shawl remains a treasured possession for her descendants. Cooper is featured on the 2026 Native American $1 coin, which honors her selfless humanitarianism.
Photos from the event are available here.
Watch a recording of the event here.
About the Oneida Indian Nation
The Oneida Indian Nation is a federally recognized Indian nation in Central New York. A founding member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (also known as the Six Nations or Iroquois Confederacy), the Oneida Indian Nation sided with the Americans in the Revolutionary War and was thanked by Congress and President George Washington for its loyalty and assistance. Today, the Nation's enterprises, which employ more than 5,000 people, include Turning Stone Resort Casino, YBR Casino & Sports Book, Point Place Casino, The Lake House at Sylvan Beach, The Cove at Sylvan Beach, Maple Leaf Markets, SāvOn Convenience stores, Verona Collective, a seed-to-sale cannabis operation, RV Park, and marinas. Proceeds from these enterprises are used to rebuild the Nation's economic base and provide essential services, including housing, health care, and education incentives and programs, to its Members.
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