ONEIDA, NY – Oneida Indian Nation Members and leadership gathered for a grand opening ceremony at the new Mary C. Winder Community Center. The 90,000 sq. ft. community center is among the largest tribal centers of its kind in the U.S. and offers a host of resources to support cultural engagement and community building.
Ahead of the grand opening event, Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter welcomed U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to visit the new community center as part of her listening tour with several New York State tribal nations. During her visit, Secretary Haaland toured the community center and discussed the Nation’s recent cultural and economic activities and other federal tribal matters with Representative Halbritter. Secretary Haaland is the highest-ranking federal executive branch official to ever visit the Oneida homelands.
The Mary C. Winder Community Center represents a historic investment by the Oneida Indian Nation in strengthening the Oneida community. Located on the Nation’s ancestral homelands within the Oneida Neighborhoods project, its design is infused with Oneida culture inside and out, including a stately entrance that suggests the threading of a wampum belt.
Inside, the community center is home to a field house with a box lacrosse field that honors the important role of the game in Oneida and Haudenosaunee culture. On July 6 and July 7, the Oneida Indian Nation will welcome the Haudenosaunee Nationals women’s box lacrosse team to the field house for two practices. The team will also offer a girls box lacrosse camp for Oneida Indian Nation members, children of enrolled Oneida members, Oneida Indian Nation Health Services clients and the Oneida Indian Nation community. The camp will include two sessions, one for ages 15 and under and another for ages 20 and under.
The community center’s other amenities include:
- Areas for Onyota’a:ká: (Oneida) language education and cultural programming
- Community gathering spaces
- A library
- An exhibit showcasing the rich legacy and historic resurgence of the Oneida people
- An accessible swimming pool
- A gymnasium, fitness center and running track
- A children’s play area
“The Mary C. Winder Community Center is a profound statement to all who see it on the vibrancy of our community and proof that by restoring our homelands, we have brought to life the dreams of our ancestors,” said Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter. “It represents our incredible history in this region spanning from time immemorial until today and shows that we will always be here until the end of time. The Oneida people can take great pride in this incredible symbol of our resiliency and legacy today and for generations to come.”
The event began as the Oneida Indian Nation flag was raised outside the community center by Nation members who are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, honoring the Nation’s legacy as America’s First Allies. A community breakfast followed in the center’s multi-purpose room before Representative Halbritter and Mary C. Winder Community Center General Manager Nichola Diaz shared remarks with those in attendance.
The grand opening event also featured a Haudenosaunee social dance exhibition held inside the new field house, during which members were invited to come onto the lacrosse field to join the dancing. After these festivities concluded, members were able to tour the center and sign up to access its amenities.