Sunday – October 13th, 2024 at Tsha’ Thoñ’nhes
SCHEDULE (On the playing field indoors unless otherwise noted.)
11:30am – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC– Buy lunch; visit crafts vendors, featured artists, community groups, and organizations (Food/craft vendors and featured artists selling throughout the day)
12:00pm – Opening Thanksgiving Address (Ganoñhanyoñh) – Tadodaho Sid Hill
12:15pm – Speaker: Removing and Replacing Columbus (Update on efforts in Syracuse) – Joe Heath, Onondaga Nation General Counsel (15 min) 
12:30pm – Speaker: Freida Jacques, Onondaga Nation (15 min)
Children’s Activities begin (continuing until 4 pm)
12:45pm – Haudenosaunee Singers and Dancers (Sherri Waterman-Hopper) (30 min)
1:15pm – Featured Artist: presentation – Karenlynne Hill, Onondaga beadworker (South corner inside building FRONT ENTRANCE) (30 min)
1:45pm – Music by Syracuse Community Choir (15 min)
2:00pm – Featured Artist: presentation – Ronni-Leigh Goeman, Onondaga basketmaker (North corner inside building FRONT ENTRANCE) (30 min)
2:30pm – Featured Artist: presentation – Karenlynne Hill, Onondaga beadworker (South corner inside building FRONT ENTRANCE) (30 min)
3:00pm – Poetry of Wendy Gonyea, Onondaga Nation (10 min)
3:10pm – Onondaga Women’s Singing Society (20 min)
3:30pm – Haudenosaunee Singers and Dancers (Sherri Waterman-Hopper) (30 min)
4:00pm – Featured Artist: presentation – Ronni-Leigh Goeman, Onondaga basketmaker (North corner inside building FRONT ENTRANCE) (30 min)
Children’s Activities end
4:30pm – Speaker: Food Sovereignty and Three Fires, Three Chefs – Ed Shenandoah (5 min)
Refocus Short Films Screening (30 min runtime)
- Haudenosaunee’s Legendary Founding
- Three Fires, Three Chefs
- Aerial View of 1,000 Acres
5:15pm – Closing Thanksgiving Address (Ganoñhanyoñh) – Tadodaho Sid Hill
We open and close with Ganoñhanyoñh (Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address), “The words spoken before all else”.
Onondaga Nation – On Sunday, October 13, 2024, join Onondaga community members, Tsha’ Thoñ’nhes management, We of Italian and Syracuse Heritage in CNY, and Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation/Syracuse Peace Council for this year’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day Festival on unceded Onondaga Nation land, at Tsha’ Thoñ’nhes, 3370 Route 11A, Onondaga Nation.
With thanks to last year’s featured artists at our 1st Indigenous Peoples’ Day Festival and 3rd annual Refocus short films screening: Robin Lazore, Travis Gabriel, Tom Huff, Brandon Lazore, Karenlyne Hill, and Natasha Smoke-Santiago.
Program features include
Ansley Jemison’s short film “Three Fires, Three Chefs” during the 4th annual Refocus films screening. If the weather allows, learn about the game of longball and join a pick-up game. Visit our featured artists Peter Jones and Ronni-Leigh Goeman throughout the day to purchase fine art and attend their two scheduled presentations. Children will enjoy making corn husk flowers and other activities between 12:30 and 4 pm.
Support Indigenous artists– all kinds of crafts from more than 20 Haudenosaunee vendors for sale including: art prints, beadwork (ornaments, jewelry, lanyards, barrettes, medallions, yokes, keychains), hand-burned/carved wood pieces, pottery, basketry, clothing (skirts, shirts, hoodies), wampum/turquoise/bone jewelry, purses, baby blankets, teddy bears, picture frames, corn husk dolls, stonework, leatherwork, quillwork, home decorations, acrylic paintings, greeting cards, velvet birds, and homemade lacrosse balls.
While you’re there, buy your Sunday lunch and dinner: our vendors’ menus include cheeseburgers, Hoffmann hotdogs, birria tacos, cornbread kabobs, corn soup, hot scoons, scoon dogs, beef sundae on fry bread, BBQ chicken, roasted corn-on-the-cob, tamales (including vegetarian options), walking tacos, strawberry shortcake, strawberry drink, sassafras tea, soda, lemonade, strawberry lemonade, atole de elote, and coffee.
Invite others and find program updates:
We of Italian and Syracuse Heritage – WISH CNY
This event is made possible by the generous support of CNY Community Foundation – this event is free and open to the public!
Know someone who wants to volunteer? Help is still needed to make the event a great success. Please contact Simone at Gonyeasimone11@gmail.com to volunteer.