1613
1142- Earliest date that scholars place of the formation of the
Haudenosaunee. The Haudenosaunee believe that our League was formed much
earlier than that.
1613- Two Row Wampum – a treaty between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch establishing relations.
1677: April-May: The Silver Covenant Chain: the first known written
(non-native) record of the Silver Covenant Chain is noted during the
negotiations by the Haudenosaunee in Albany with New York,
Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
1696- The French attack the Onondaga. The French find abandoned villages, decide to burn the crops of the Onondagas.
1701: Haudenosaunee made peace with both the English and the French, declaring neutrality.
1713: Treaty of Utrecht ends a war between England and France. In
this treaty, England and France recognize the Haudenosaunee right to
travel and trade on both sides of the English-Canada border and
throughout the territories claimed by both England and France. The
right of the Haudenosaunee to travel and trade is an “aboriginal right” –
that is, a right that existed before contact with the Europeans. In
fact, archaeological evidence proves the Haudenosaunee right to travel
and trade had been asserted for at least three thousand years prior to
white contact.
1744: during treaty negotiations in Lancaster, Pennsylvania,
Canasatego, an Onondaga chief, urges the English colonists to unite by
following the example of the Haudenosaunee.
1751: Benjamin Franklin writes to James Parker on March 20, l750/5l,
referring to the confederacy formed by the Haudenosaunee and noting that
the colonists should form a similar union.
1754: The Albany Plan of Union, drafted primarily by Benjamin
Franklin, was based on the Haudenosaunee example and is proposed at an
Albany meeting of colonists. Although the plan fails, it sets the
precedent for the Stamp Act Congress of 1765 at which the united
colonists protested Great Britain’s tax
1768: The Treaty of Fort Stanwix between the Haudenosaunee and Great
Britain’s representative Sir William Johnson establishes the western
boundary of the New York colony: from Fort Stanwix (now Rome, New York)
southeasterly and then south to the Pennsylvania border and then
southwesterly to Pittsburgh and the Ohio River. The territory to the
west of the line all the way to what is now eastern Ohio was intended to
be clearly the lands of the Haudenosaunee.
1775- At Ft. Pitt, commissioners from the Continental Congress, asks
the Haudenosaunee and its allies to remain neutral in the upcoming
revolution. The Haudenosaunee and its 1500 delegates agrees.
1778– Haudenosaunee leaders state that the United States does not have the authority to draft our men into war.
1779- General George Washington orders the total destruction of the
Haudenosaunee. In April of 1779, General Goose Van Schaick attacks men,
women, and children and burns more than 8 miles of Onondaga villages and
crops beginning at Onondaga Lake. Generals Sullivan and Clinton coninue
the campaign in September focusing on the Cayuga and Seneca nations.
1784: The Second Treaty of Fort Stanwix is convened by the
commissioners from Continental Congress, asks for Peace between the USA
and the Haudenosaunee to end fighting and re-establish government to
government relations.
1789- Onondagas complain to Governor Clinton that pioneer Asa Danforth is building a house along Onondaga Lake.
1790- Federal Trade and Intercourse Act- at the request of the
Haudenosaunee, President Washington makes a law stating no land can be
aquired or purched unless it has the approval of the United States
Government.
1794- Treaty of Canandaigua – George Washington asks for Peace
between the USA and the Haudenosaunee to end fighting and reestablish
government to government relations. Under article 7, it establishes a
method for the 2 governments to manage individuals who breaks the laws
inside the Haudenosaunee and United States territories.
1794- Jay Treaty- States that the Haudenosaunee has free passage
between the United States and Canada and does not have to pay a duty or
toll to do so.
1790-1822- New York State continues to purchase land from the
Onondaga without following the rules and regulations set forth by
President Washington and the Federal government.
1815- Seneca chief Handsome Lake, bringing his “Good Message” to the people, passes away at Onondaga.
1815: The Treaty of Ghent between Great Britain and the United States
restores to all Indian people all the rights and treaties they had
prior to 1811
1850- The first school is built on the border of the Onondaga Nation. It is burned down.
1861- The Hough Report. New York State sets up a commission to “Extinguish Title” of natives to their land in New York State.
1889: Whipple Report issued by the New York State legislature details
conditions at Onondaga and all Haudenosaunee reservations, extensively
quoting Haudenosaunee leaders.
1890- A second school house is built on the Nation. Students are
taught in English only classes. The Onondaga language is prohibited.
Young men and women are sent to Boarding Schools in western New York
State and Pennsylvania.
1892: Extra Census Bulletin The Six Nations declares the imposition
of allotment and citizenship would violate treaties with the
Haudenosaunee. One of the authors of this report, Thomas Donaldson,
noted: “If the Iroquois … want to become citizens of the United States
they must renounce allegiance to their own people. . . . neither the
state of New York nor the United States can break them [the
reservations] up without the Indians’ consent, or through conditions
analogous to those of war. They have always been recognized as
nations….
1913: Income Tax approved by the l6th Amendment: proposed in l909,
ratified l9l3. This is a unilateral action by the United States that
violates the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua. The Haudenosaunee had no say
in this amendment.
1924- The United States enacts the 1924 Citizen Act act making all
Natives American citizens. The Haudenosaunee refuse the act, referring
to the Two Row Wampum as a binding agreement, as one government cannot
impose laws on the other government and its people.
1934: The Indian Reorganization Act is passed stating that Native
Americans can have freedom of religion if they dissolve traditional
government and create a government modeled on the United States
Constitution.
1935: the Haudenosaunee reject the Indian Reorganization Act.
1946: Congress establishes the Indian Claims Commission to hear claims by Indian nations against the United States.
1948- The New Deal is brought to the Onondaga Nation when a brick school is built and a dam. Why we need a dam, know one knows.
1955- Onondaga raises money to open our own volunteer fire department.
1965- Tadadaho George Thomas passes.
1968- Tadadaho Leon Shenandoah Sr. condoled by the Haudenosaunee.
1971- New York State tries to purchase more land to expand interstate
81 through the Onondaga Nation. Onondaga wins! NYS expands interstate
81 in neighboring LaFayette, New York.
1972- The Onondaga Indian School begins language and culture classes
to teach students the Onondaga Language after the community boycotts
school system.
1977- The first Haudenosaunee Passports are issued and an Onondaga delegation travels to Switzerland using the passports.
1980- At Onondaga, The Grand Council approves the initiation of the
Iroquois Nationals. A field lacrosse team that competes with the other
lacrosse Nations of the world; USA, Canada, United Kingdom, and
Australia.
1983- Onondaga Council permits individual owners to open tax free “Smoke Shops” on the Nation.
1983- American Indian Movement leader Dennis Banks seeks amnesty from
the United States for his involvement in the Wounded Knee standoff in
South Dakota. Dennis Banks stayed under the protection of the Onondaga
Nation until an equitable agreement was drawn between the Haudenosaunee
and the United States.
1987- The US Senate and House of Representatives pass a Bill stating
the role the Haudenosaunee had on the founding fathers of the United
States government.
1989- New York museums return many of our wampum to the Onondaga
Nation. Wampum belts such as the Hiawatha, Tadadaho, and Dust Fan belt
are back in our possession after being sold 92 years earlier.
1995- The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports that Gov. Pataki
has called off Gallant Piper. Gallant Piper was a military solution
involving 10,000 infantry troops to “settle” the taxation issue with the
Haudenosaunee.
1992- Onondaga delegation including Leon Shenandoah, Oren Lyons and
Audrey Shenandoah addresses the United Nations general assembly.
1995- The Onondaga Nation School receives major renovations and
additional classrooms. Architects uses symbolism of the Haudenosaunee in
its design.
1996- Tadadaho Leon Shenandoah Sr. passes.
1998- The New York State museum returns over 200 ceremonial masks to the Onondaga Nation.
1998- The first Nation owned and operated Smoke Shop is opened.
2000- Onondaga opens its own lacrosse/ice arena called Tsha’HonNonyen Dakwha’.
2001- Tadadaho Sid Hill is condoled by the Haudenosaunee.
2002- Onondaga Nation completed Phase 1 of the Water Work project to
bring fresh clean water to the people on the Onondaga Nation.
2003- Onondaga works with the LaFayette School District to fly the Haudenosaunee flag at the High School in LaFayette, NY.
2005- The Onondaga Nation submits a land claim on their territories in central New York.
2006- Jane Goodall joins the Onondaga Nation to commiserate the
destruction of their sacred Onondaga Lake and encourage hope for its
salvation with an alternative clean up plan then the one proposed by
Honeywell.
2007- The Onondaga Nation defends their case In Federal Courrt in
Albany. New York State wants the case dismissed as it would be too
disruptive to the citizens of New York. The Onondaga Nation states that
it is not seeking removal of landowners but declaritory judgement that
New York State violated federal laws.
2009- Onondaga Nation and the Haudenosaunee Task Force issue a
statement against Hydro-fracking and the dangers it presents to the
environment.
