Honoring Syracuse’s first people
Honoring Syracuse’s first people
The Onondaga Nation joins Syracuse community members to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day.

The Onondaga Nation welcomed Native Americans from other tribes and the broader Syracuse community on Sunday as its members marked Indigenous People’s Day.
“We’re celebrating,” said Brandon Lazore of the Onondaga Snipe Clan. “You’re seeing a lot of artwork, crafts, singing and dancing, and some great traditional foods.”
Lazore was one of the event’s featured artists. “I have artwork, greeting cards and some limited edition prints of my work,” he said. “I’ve put it out there for people who may be interested.”
The celebration at Tsha’ Thoñ’nhes Arena was coordinated by the Nation, We of Italian and Syracuse Heritage CNY (WISH), the Syracuse Peace Council, Neighbors of Onondaga Nation and Tsha’ Thoñ’nhes management.
Kelly Gibson of the Onondaga Eel Clan said the newfound recognition of Indigenous people is something that was much needed.
“For people to finally recognize Indigenous People’s Day instead of Columbus Day is huge,” Gibson said. “People are understanding what Christopher Columbus actually brought.”

Oneida Turtle Clan Mother Freida Jacques addressed the importance of having a positive outlook during her talk at the event.
“Everything we do and everything we say comes from our thinking,” Jacques said. “Use your intent and ability to move away from those damaging thoughts, and do good things.”
Andy Mager, one of the organizers from the Neighbors of Onondaga Nation, said local Indigenous people and their allies would often spend this time of year protesting in front of the monument of Christopher Columbus in downtown Syracuse.
Columbus Day has been recognized this time of year since 1937, despite protests from Native Americans and others who note that Columbus didn’t discover the Americas, which were already home to about 50 million people. Nor was he the first European to encounter the North American landmass. His arrival, though, told of the coming invasion of Europeans on the continent and the misery it would cause for those already here.
Starting last year, organizers brought the event to Onondaga Nation territory to make it more impactful for members and guests. Last year’s event took place as a day-long festival in front of the Everson Monument.

“As we were kind of evaluating and thinking about how to make the event more meaningful,” Mager said of moving it to the Nation. “We believe that the United States and New York state have done grave injustices to the Haudenosaunee and that we owe a debt to them. Part of that debt is learning about their history and figuring out together how to make amends for those crimes and create a more sustainable future going forward.”