The Oneida Reservation in Wisconsin was granted to members of the Oneida Nation in 1887. The rectangular-shaped reservation measures approximately 102 square miles and is owned by the tribe and held in trust by the federal government. The Oneida Government is self-governing and operates independently of Wisconsin state laws. Much of the revenue required to provide social services comes from gaming, including the Oneida Casino. The tribe established the Tsyunhehkwa agricultural program on the reservation, which is heavily concentrated on white corn, beans, and squash. The Oneida Reservation is the site of many community events and educational opportunities.
The Oneida Reservation is a parcel of land in Wisconsin that was granted to members of the Oneida Nation of Native American Indians in 1887. Located southwest of Green Bay in the eastern tip of Wisconsin, the rectangular-shaped reservation measures approximately 102 square miles (about 265 square km), or just over 65,000 acres. A portion of the land on the Oneida Reservation is owned by the tribe and the remainder is held in trust by the federal government of the United States (USA).
Historically, the Oneida ancestral home is in New York, where they controlled approximately 6 million acres (about 24,400 sq km) at the time of the American Revolution. After the war, tribal holdings decreased to about 4,500 acres (about 18 sq km) due to the government’s practice of removing Indians. Faced with further encroachment by settlers, the Oneidas purchased approximately 5 million acres of government land near the Green Bay area and proceeded to relocate some of their population to Wisconsin. In 1887, after various government machinations reduced tribal holdings, the Indian Allotment Act granted 650 members of the Oneida tribe 100 acres (about 41 sq km) each.
There are approximately 12,000 registered members of the Oneida Nation of Indians in Wisconsin and approximately 2,500 of them call the Oneida Reservation home. As a tribal sovereignty, the Oneida Government is self-governing and operates independently of Wisconsin state laws. Employing approximately 1,000 people, the government offers numerous social services to its members, including medical and dental insurance, higher education, a food pantry, police, library, a community health center, parks, and primary school.
Much of the revenue required to provide these services comes from gaming. The Oneida Reservation is the site of the Oneida Casino, which opened in 1993 and offers a variety of off-track games and wagers, as well as a 1,100-seat pavilion for concerts. A bingo hall and several smaller casinos round out the gaming facilities. The Oneida Reservation received additional revenue from the acquisition of Thornberry Creek Country Club, an award-winning 27-hole championship golf course and banquet facility.
Members of the Oneida Nation generally believe that people should live in harmony with nature and that their land, properly cared for, can sustain their community. In an effort to honor this relationship and achieve their goal of self-sufficiency, the tribe established the Tsyunhehkwa agricultural program, which means “life support,” on the Oneida Reservation. The production of crops on this 83-acre (about 34 square km) certified organic farm is based on cultural traditions that emphasize the importance of community participation and agricultural education for livelihoods. To that end, a ceremony is held each season to honor the seed planted, and when the crops are ready to harvest, members participate in a community harvest to celebrate their generosity.
Tsyunhehkwa production is heavily concentrated on white corn, beans and squash, but also includes corn, berries, herbs, fruits and vegetables. The program also includes a cannery that creates and preserves food, such as salsa, soups, applesauce, flour, breads, jams, and pickles. There is a retail component where these items, and more, are sold to the public and education is provided to tribe members to help them tend their gardens and preserve their crops. Oneida Farms is a separate entity that adds to the food production and retail market by raising cattle, American bison and free range poultry.
The Oneida Reservation is the site of many community events. Tours are available year-round and include powwow exhibits, storytelling, and demonstrations of Indian artifacts. Additional educational opportunities to learn about the history and culture of the Oneida people are provided by the Oneida Nation Museum. Tribe members also host an annual Christmas celebration, an Indian summer festival each fall, and a family carnival in the summer.
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