Oneida Indian Nation Homelands (July 13, 2022)  –  The Oneida Indian Nation, in partnership with Fort Stanwix and the Rome Historical Society (RHS), is planning a day of local history education events centered around the annual Battle of Oriskany Commemoration on Saturday, August 6th with New York State’s Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation agency. Each year, the Oneida Indian Nation joins with its neighbors to commemorate the noble service and sacrifices of our respective ancestors at the Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site. A significant turning point in the American Revolution, the Battle of Oriskany was fought on August 6, 1777, and is considered one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

WHEN:  Saturday, August 6

The evening’s schedule of events is as follows:

  • 4:00 p.m. | The Pivotal Role of the Great Oneida Carry (45 minutes) at the Oneida Carry Monument in Downtown Rome.
    • Arthur Simmons, Executive Director of RHS, and a representative of the Oneida Indian Nation will discuss the history of the Great Oneida Carrying Place during the Revolutionary War.
    • Please RSVP to Miranda Sherrock at educator@romehistoricalsociety.org or 315-336-5870 by August 1.*
  • 7:00 p.m. | Annual Solemn Commemoration of the Battle of Oriskany (1 hour) at the Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site.
    • This annual ceremony is held in recognition of those who fought in the Battle of Oriskany on August 6th, 1777. It includes a re-enactment of the militia march, a musket salute in memory of the fallen, presentation of wreaths and ceremonial offerings, along with guest speakers.
  • 8:30 p.m. | Oneida Indian Nation Movie Night @ Fort Stanwix (1 hour) inside the Fort.
    • The event will feature the award-winning animated film “My Home: An Oneida Legend,” as well as the documentary, “The People of the Standing Stone: The Oneida Indian Nation, the War for Independence, and the Making of America.”
    • Please RSVP to Valerie Morgan at 315-338-7730 by August 1.* Feel free to bring lawn chairs or blankets for your own comfort.

WHERE:              

  • The Pivotal Role of the Great Oneida Carry | Address: 301 W. Dominick Street, Rome
  • Annual Solemn Commemoration of the Battle of Oriskany | Address: 7801 NY Route 69, Oriskany
  • Oneida Indian Nation Movie Night @ Fort Stanwix | Address: 200 N. James St, Rome

**REMINDER**              

If you plan to attend the Pivotal Role of the Great Oneida Carry presentation, please RSVP to Miranda Sherrock at educator@romehistoricalsociety.org or 315-336-5870 by August 1.

If you plan to attend the Oneida Indian Nation Movie Night @ Fort Stanwix please RSVP to Valerie Morgan at 315-338-7730 by August 1.

The annual Battle of Oriskany Commemoration is open to the public. No RSVP is required.

 Media Contact:
Oneida Indian Nation
Joel Barkin, VP of Communications
315.361.8173
jbarkin@oneida-nation.org

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 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 Oneida Indian Nation consists of about 1,000 enrolled Members, most of them living in Central New York. The Nation’s enterprises, which employ more than 4,500 people, include Turning Stone Resort Casino, YBR Casino & Sports Book, Point Place Casino, The Lake House at Sylvan Beach, Maple Leaf Markets, SāvOn Convenience stores, RV Park, marinas and The Cove at Sylvan Beach, opening Summer 2022. 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.

About the Fort Stanwix National Monument

Known as “the fort that never surrendered,” Fort Stanwix, under the command of Col. Peter Gansevoort, successfully repelled a prolonged siege, in August 1777, by British, German, Loyalist, Canadian, and American Indian troops and warriors commanded by British Gen. Barry St. Leger. The failed siege – combined with the battles at Oriskany, Bennington, and Saratoga – thwarted a coordinated effort by the British in 1777, under the leadership of Gen. John Burgoyne, to take the northern colonies, and led to American alliances with France and the Netherlands. Troops from Fort Stanwix also participated in the 1779 Clinton-Sullivan Campaign and protected America’s northwest frontier from British campaigns until finally being abandoned in 1781. For more information about the park and its history, call 315-338-7730 or visit NPS.gov/fost, connect on Facebook, or follow on Instagram.

About the Rome Historical Society

The Rome Historical Society (RHS) was chartered by the NY State Board of Regents in 1936, through the thoughtful undertaking of a number of civically engaged Romans. Their goal was ultimately simple: to foster the study of the historic city of Rome, New York, and to share that history with as many other people as possible. At RHS, you can discover the ways Rome has adapted, grown, and changed over time, from its days as a place of portage to its early fortifications like Fort Bull and Fort Stanwix, from a small town briefly named Lynchville to the industrious city that supplied one-tenth of the world’s copper and was home to Griffiss Air Force Base. RHS is a 501 (c) (3) non- profit with headquarters located at 200 Church in Rome, NY. In addition, RHS owns and maintains three historic sites including the Lower Landing Place, Fort Bull – Fort Wood Creek, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers of the American Revolution. RHS is also the Friends Group (Philanthropic Partner) of Fort Stanwix National Monument. To learn more, go to www.romehistoricalsociety.org, like them on Facebook, or call 315-336-5870.

About the Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site

Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site is operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation which oversees 180 state parks and 35 historic sites that are visited by 60 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit parks.ny.gov, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.