Oneida Indian Nation Community Celebrates Historical Recognition
Nearly 200 Oneida Indian Nation Members and their guests filled the atrium of the Mary C. Winder Community Center on the sunny morning of March 1st to celebrate the legacy of Oneida heroine Polly Cooper. Earlier this year, the United States Mint honored Polly Cooper—and the Oneida Indian Nation’s history as America’s First Allies—by featuring her on the 2026 $1 Native American coin.
Recognizing Polly Cooper and the Oneida Indian Nation in this way is especially timely, as this year the United States will observe the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The coin represents the Oneida people’s critical role in the founding of the United States through an alliance grounded in the strong belief in the right of all people to sovereignty and self-determination.
Beginning in 2009, the U.S. Mint has issued the $1 Nation American coin to honor the important contributions made by sovereign Native American nations and individuals to the history and development of the United States. The 2026 coin continues this tradition, depicting Polly Cooper with General George Washington as she holds a basket of the white corn she and her fellow Oneidas brought to the Valley Forge encampment. Cooper remained at the encampment all winter, teaching the soldiers how to prepare the corn and cooking for troops to ensure they survived the harsh conditions.
During the gathering, Nation Members were each given their very own Polly Cooper coin with commemorative wooden boxes. A buffet breakfast reception followed, featuring corn mush and corn soup prepared in the traditional way Polly Cooper would have made them.
The inclusion of Polly Cooper in this series of coins “demonstrates the incredible progress we have made in our cultural revitalization and sharing of the true story of our foundational role in American history,” said Nation Representative Ray Halbritter. “Experience has taught us that unless we loudly and proudly share the stories of ancestors like Polly Cooper, whose contributions changed the very course of the Revolutionary War, our critical role in this conflict will be erased.”
Halbritter and the Oneida Indian Nation Council personally presented commemorative Polly Cooper coins to several Oneida Members who are veterans of the armed services. Halbritter noted that Oneida veterans have sacrificed for the greater good, not just for fellow Oneidas, but for all Americans—just as Oneida ancestors did some 250 years ago. Their commitment, Halbritter explained, “is among the many reasons we work so hard to preserve and share this legacy through initiatives like this coin.
The Oneida Indian Nation worked closely with the U.S. Mint to develop the coin’s design and with partners in Congress to secure this federal recognition of Polly Cooper and the Nation’s historic legacy. In February, the Oneida Indian Nation Council joined prominent members of Congress and federal officials in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the coin’s release just months before the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding; an event Polly Cooper’s courageous actions helped make possible.
Speakers included U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), U.S. Representative Tom Cole (OK-4); Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus and Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, U.S. Representative Jeff Hurd (CO-3), House Chairman of the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs and U.S. Representative Sharice Davids (KS-3); The second Native American Women to serve in Congress and Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus and member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin.
“I often say that tribal sovereignty is not something granted by Congress, it is inherent.” said U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd (CO-3), House Chairman of the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. “Self-determination works when tribes are empowered to decide their own futures. And Congress’ responsibility is to respect that sovereignty, and to honor its commitments.”
The event held in Washington and the support from partners reflects the broad bipartisan support this recognition received and growing appreciation for the Nation’s role as America’s First Allies.
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