Oneida Nation Celebration

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., will hold a day of educational sessions on July 22 highlighting the Oneida people of central New York—the only tribal nation to stand alongside colonists in their fight for freedom during the Revolutionary War. 

The Oneida Nation believes in the right of all people to sovereignty and self-determination. Polly Cooper, one of many Oneidas who played a central role in this legacy, traveled with a band of her tribe hundreds of miles from their Upstate New York homelands to bring essential food and supplies to General George Washington and his starving troops at Valley Forge. Cooper is featured on the U.S. Mint’s 2026 Native American dollar.

Event Highlights

The Smithsonian’s event will feature the many ways the Oneida people contributed to the founding of the United States. Programs include traditional dances, food demonstrations, a film screening, a presentation on Polly Cooper’s legacy, and a closer look at the Allies in War, Partners in Peace museum exhibit.

“We are proud to once again partner with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian to hold this event and shine a light on the history we share with the United States and our ancestors’ role in its founding as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary,” says Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter. “The founding of the United States and the historical accounts of the Revolution are too often told without references to our people and our ancestor Polly Cooper. Events like these honor our legacy and help to ensure our story is told for generations to come.”