Oneida Nation of the Thames

^[1]

Oneida 41
Indian reserve
Oneida Indian Reserve No. 41
Oneida 41
Coordinates: 42°49′N 81°24′W / 42.817°N 81.400°W / 42.817; -81.400Coordinates: 42°49′N 81°24′W / 42.817°N 81.400°W / 42.817; -81.400
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
County	Middlesex
First Nation	Oneidas of the Thames
Settled	1840s
Government
• Chief	Sheri Doxtator
• Federal riding	Lambton—Kent—Middlesex
• Prov. riding	Lambton—Kent—Middlesex
Area[2]
• Land	22.16 km2 (8.56 sq mi)
Population (2011)[2]
• Total	1,282
• Density	57.8/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code	N0L
Area code(s)	519 and 226
Website	www.oneida.on.ca

The Oneida Nation of the Thames is an Onyota'a:ka (Oneida) First Nations band government located in southwestern Ontario on what is commonly referred to as the "Oneida Settlement", located about a 30-minute drive from London, Ontario, Canada.^[3] The Oneida Nation reports a total of 6,108 members, including 2,159 residents.^[1]

The Oneida Settlement

The Oneida, Haudenosaunee people often referred to colonialistically as an Iroquoian people, had a traditional territory that once covered a large section of the eastern part of North America. The territory of the Oneida Settlement is part of the traditional hunting area known as the Beaver Hunting Grounds, which was recognized in the 1701 Nanfan Treaty. The people who live there are descendants of much later migrants, a small group of assimilated/Christian Oneidas who relocated to Southwold, Ontario, Canada from New York state in the 1840s. The original settlers of the Oneida community were associated with two Christian denominations, Methodist and Anglican. One of the leaders in the migration was an ordained Methodist minister. Soon after their arrival in Ontario, the settlers built Methodist and Anglican churches. Since those early days, these two churches have had over half of the population as members. By 1877, some people began to join the Baptists. Old Methodist records show some families and individuals shifting from the Methodist to the Baptist church, and the reverse.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada designates the settlement as Oneida 41 Indian Reserve or simply as Oneida 41.^[4] The Oneida people who live or are descendants of people at the "Oneida Settlement" always insist that their lands be called a "settlement" because Oneida people purchased the relocation lands in Ontario. This is a distinction from having the lands "set aside" or "reserved" for them. Many other lands inhabited by indigenous people in North America are called "Indian reserves".

Prior to selling their New York lands, the Oneida requested assurance from the Crown that should they remove to Canada, they would be protected and treated in every respect as their brethren who had always resided within the precincts of the province. Having received such assurance, they sold their lands in New York and selected the Thames River tract. They expressed a wish that their tenure to these lands should be precisely the same as that held by the resident tribes; the parties from whom the lands were purchased should surrender them to Her Majesty in trust for the sole use and benefit of the tribe and their posterity. In this way the people of the Oneida Settlement would be put on a footing with other tribes in the province, and be exempt from the taxation to which the white inhabitants of the country were liable by law.

The circumstances of purchase and subsequent surrender of the land have led some present-day Oneidas to hold an equivocal position regarding the status of the communal lands. A number of Oneidas object to the term “reserve” in reference to the Oneida community. They prefer to call it the “Oneida Settlement” or "Oneida Community", claiming that the land is private property, having been purchased by their ancestors rather than given by treaty. They also contend that the Oneida have never surrendered the land to the Crown, therefore the government should not have jurisdiction over them. Nevertheless the government treats Oneida as a reserve. The Oneidas recognize, though often with protest, this de facto status of the community. Those who claim the land is still privately owned rather than held in trust do not press to establish this claim with the government.

Several reasons are stated for letting the issue ride: the impossibility of getting all the special interest groups in the community to work together to prove their claim; lack of funds to fight such a case; and fear of losing certain advantages which reserve status brings them (Indian Act Governments). This latter is perhaps the most important reason. Those who deny that Oneida is Crown land held in trust for the Indians, fear that should the government accept their claim to its being privately owned land, then the Oneida might have to pay taxes. These would be delinquent since 1840.

Governance

Under Canadian law, the Band would be mostly covered by the Canadian Indian Act, a non-traditional form of elected governmental power delegated to the community through s. 92 of the Canadian Constitution. However, because the Oneida purchased their lands outright, the government does not follow all sections of the Indian Act with regards to the Oneida settlement. Nevertheless, the community does hold its own elections for self-government under the Indian Act. Participation by the voting population in these elections is below 40%, which is similar to other Haudenosaunee communities in Canada.

The current Indian Act Band Council consists of Chief Randall Phillips and twelve (12) councillors: Carol Antone,^[1] Clinton Cornelius, Brandon Doxtator, Charity Doxtator, Gloria Doxtator, H.Grant Doxtator, Harry Doxtator, Kathleen Doxtator, Ursula Doxtator and Olive Elm, Justin Kechego-Doxtator and Stacey Phillips. The council, in turn, is a member of the Southern First Nation Secretariat, a Regional Chiefs' Council. On a larger political scale, the First Nation is a member of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians, a Tribal Political Organization representing eight Iroquoian and Anishinaabe First Nation governments in Ontario.

This community also has a hereditary government structure in place.

Community

The community contains three sub-divisions, a community center, and three parks. Bingo and radio bingo are very popular, and sports are important. The people attend long house and the annual ceremonies. They teach the Oneida language to all children in school.

Since its inception, the Community Center has been the center of controversy related to its construction, funding, and operations. By renting meeting rooms to the community for special events (e.g., birthday parties and other celebrations), the current Indian Act Council envisioned the center as a self-sustaining business. It planned on the center generating adequate revenue to pay for the center's operating costs and staffing. Because Oneida's Chief and Council failed to factor in the overwhelming poverty of the community, their vision of a "Self-sufficient Community Center" has never come to fruition. The Community Center has always operated in a revenue deficit.

Facilities

The Oneida people who live in this reserve also have a traditional longhouse and government. There are two factions: the River Road Longhouse follows the Code of Handsome Lake as well as the Great Law, and the other, the Elijah Road Longhouse, follows only the Great Law, not recognizing the other teachings.

A number of Oneida own independent businesses, including several craft shops, variety stores, gas bars, and a great number of smoke shops. Two elementary schools have been built: Standing Stone and The Log School (Tsi ni yu kwali ho:tu')'. A health clinic is located in downtown Oneida. This area includes a community-owned radio station, administration building, senior rest home, a volunteer fire hall/ambulance station, water treatment facility, sewage treatment facilities, public works building, community centre, police station, and a training centre.

Annual events

The Oneida Nation of the Thames holds an annual Oneida Fair, the third weekend in the month of September. The Oneida Fair was once an occasion for the people to celebrate and compete in agricultural events and other competitions associated with their historical rural lifestyle.

Today most Oneida people are not agriculturalists. Their lives do not depend on a rural garden, home canning, baking, sewing, arts and crafts, and the raising of livestock. They have become more urbanized just as have other populations in Canada. But, people do participate every year and enter the various agricultural and home arts competitions, albeit on a smaller scale than in the past. Since the early 21st century, the Oneida Fairboard has sponsored a fireworks show at the Fair. It also has featured musicians such as Joanne Shenendoah (Oneida Indian Tribe of New York) and local acts such as Robbie Antone (blues performer).

The Oneida Fair has likely gained more importance for those members who no longer live at the settlement. It is an occasion for homecoming and a chance to renew tribal ties. Many people feel welcome at the fair because it is generally a secular and non-political event.

Neighbours

The closest tribal or First Nation neighbours to the Oneida are the Munsee-Delaware Nation and the Chippewas of the Thames.

Recent successes

In the summer of 2007 the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care approved the Oneida Nation of the Thames for the licensing and funding of 64 long-term care beds, as well as 2.8 million in capital. The First Nation continues to negotiate with other governments and partners to participate in this opportunity for family care. The facility will employ 70-80 people, and will bring in 70 million dollars over a 20-year span. It will also allow First Nations people to return to their families, and partake in cultural activities.

Media

A First Nations/community radio station in Oneida Nation of the Thames operates at 89.5 FM. This unlicensed station is branded as Oneida Radio 89.5 FM The Eagle^[5] or Eagle Radio 89.5, etc. and has no call sign.

See also

• Oneida tribe

References

External links

• Official website
• AANDC profile

		Strathroy-Caradoc, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation 42 Thames River
	Chippewas of the Thames First Nation 42 / Thames River		Middlesex Centre
		Oneida 41
		Southwold