Onondaga Nation – The last day of 2020 saw hope for the people on the Onondaga Nation as Tsha’ Thon’swatha’ (Onondaga Nation Firehouse) hosted vaccinations for 100 of our elders. The 100 COVID-19 vaccinations were provided by Syracuse Upstate Medical Center.
The Council has closed the school, the Arena, Firekeepers, and our Smoke Shop is only open for drive through in order to limit the amount of spread of the virus. Despite these efforts, cases of the nation have begun to rise, especially since the month of November. Like most native communities, many Onondaga Nation homes have multi-generational families living together. Our elders with their grandchildren. So when one person in a household catches a virus, there is a greater opportunity of their elders catching it as well.
The offer from Upstate Medical Center for Covid-19 for vaccinations for our elders could not have come at a better time. With winter having family members staying inside, the possibility of the virus quickly through an entire family is heightened.
Thursday’s vaccinations were truly a collaborative effort. 
The Administration at Upstate Medical Center including Dr. Mantosh Dewan, Dr. Robert Corona, Dr. Brian Thompson and Head Nurse Nancy Page, the entire staff of the Onondaga Nation Health Center, our Onondaga Nation Fire Department, the Nedrow and Onondaga Central Fire Departments, the TLC Ambulance Service, Firkeepers and countless other Onondaga Nation residents for working so hard to make today’s vaccinations happen.
The phrase Sga•dah hwe’dwayéñ’ ne’ oñgwa’nigoñhä•’ is important to Onondaga. It is translated to, ‘we come together in one mind’. On Thursday, so many people came here to join together as one to help our elders. It is a good way to end the year.
