On the same day, she opened up the New York State Fair, Governor Kathy Hochul visited the Onondaga Longhouse last Wednesday for a conversation with Onondaga Nation leaders, including Tadodaho Sid Hill, representatives of the Council of Chiefs, and Clan Mothers.
“Today we met at the Onondaga Nation Longhouse to strengthen the government-to-government relationship between the Onondaga Nation and the State of New York,” Governor Hochul said. “This visit marked first time in half a century that a sitting Governor of New York visited the Onondaga Nation home territory and comes after the historic return of more than 1,000 acres of land to the Onondaga Nation. During a productive and meaningful conversation, we discussed the unique concerns facing the Onondaga Nation and ways in which our two governments can collaborate, including through investments in education and health care. We committed to continued dialogue around these critical issues and further respectful collaboration in the years to come.”
“We are honored to host Governor Hochul for the first visit by a New York Governor to the Longhouse in at least half a century, and we look forward to working with her and State officials on treaty-guaranteed support for education and health services for our citizens,” Tadodaho Sid Hill said. “Dialogue is always essential to respectful government-to-government relations, and we agree that the return of 1,000 acres at the headwaters of Onondaga Creek is a long-overdue recognition of the need to reverse the environmental degradation of the land and waters that have sustained our people long before the Europeans settlers first arrived. We hope this is the beginning of a long fruitful dialogue towards restoring peace and justice on our lands. The Onondaga Nation hopes that this meeting will hasten the process of truth and healing between our two governments, as we work towards lasting justice, peace and respect for all who inhabit this area that is the homeland of the Onondaga Nation and its people.”
