Oneida Nation Foundation

The Oneida Nation Foundation is the philanthropic arm associated with the Oneida Indian Nation, a federally recognized Indian nation in Central New York and a founding member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The Nation describes itself as honoring the past while building tomorrow, focusing on reinvesting revenues from its enterprises into initiatives that help guarantee a prosperous and sustainable future for current Members and future generations. Its enterprises employ more than 5,000 people, and proceeds are used to rebuild the Nation's economic base and provide essential services including housing, health care, and education incentives and programs. The Foundation's work is closely tied to the Nation's broader governance philosophy of resilience, tradition, and seven-generation decision-making. The Nation is governed by a Nation Council of clan representatives who prioritize long-term stability and the well-being of the next seven generations. Fundamental to this identity is a deep commitment to preserving cultural heritage, including legends, lore, and traditional beliefs, as well as language preservation through the Oneida Indian Nation Language Program. Through its community investments, the Foundation supports facilities and programs such as the Mary C. Winder Community Center, a 90,000-square-foot facility among the largest tribal centers of its kind in the country, and the Shako:wi Cultural Center, which preserves Oneida history and culture. Health-related giving includes support for Oneida Indian Nation Health Services, which provides comprehensive care and operates the ADCES-accredited Yukwata'kali:ték Diabetes Program. The Foundation also supports educational and cultural partnerships, including the Nation's leadership role in supporting the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian and the Museum of the American Revolution. While the Foundation itself is a private philanthropic entity rather than a commercial brand, it is an integral part of the Oneida Indian Nation's ecosystem, which includes commercial enterprises that generate the revenue fueling its charitable mission. The Nation's economic resurgence in its Central New York homelands has enabled it to reclaim ancestral lands and invest in the next generations, embodying the principle of strengthening the community unto the seventh generation.

The Oneida Nation Foundation is the philanthropic entity associated with the Oneida Indian Nation, a federally recognized Indian nation in Central New York and a founding member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (also known as the Six Nations or Iroquois Confederacy). The Oneida Indian Nation sided with the Americans in the Revolutionary War and was thanked by Congress and President George Washington for its loyalty and assistance. After overcoming historical adversity and playing a pivotal role in the founding of America, the Nation achieved a significant economic rebirth in its Central New York homelands. Today, the Nation's enterprises employ more than 5,000 people. Proceeds from these enterprises are used to rebuild the Nation's economic base and provide essential services, including housing, health care, and education incentives and programs, to its Members. The Foundation serves as a vehicle for reinvesting these revenues into initiatives that help guarantee a prosperous and sustainable future for current Members and future generations. The Nation is governed by a Nation Council of clan representatives who prioritize long-term stability and the well-being of the next seven generations. This seven-generation governance philosophy is central to the Foundation's mission. Fundamental to the Oneida Indian Nation identity is a deep commitment to preserving cultural heritage, including the legends, lore, and traditional beliefs that honor the Creator's gifts. Key community assets supported by the Nation's reinvestment include the Mary C. Winder Community Center, a 90,000-square-foot facility among the largest tribal centers of its kind in the country, which offers resources to strengthen the Oneida community, and the Shako:wi Cultural Center, which stands as a testament to the rich lives, talents, and heroism of the Oneida people. The Nation has also taken a prominent leadership role in supporting the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian and the Museum of the American Revolution to ensure their legacy as America's first allies is preserved for generations. Health-related initiatives include Oneida Indian Nation Health Services, which provides comprehensive care for Nation Members and American Indians living in Central New York. Its Yukwata'kali:ték Diabetes Program has been accredited since 2011 and achieved reaccreditation by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) in 2022. The Nation's language preservation efforts, including the Oneida Indian Nation Language Program, use audio posters, electronic books, and smartphone apps to help Oneidas regain the language. The Foundation's history is intertwined with the Nation's broader economic and cultural resurgence, including the landmark pact between the Oneida Indian Nation, New York State, and local counties that strengthened sovereignty, ended long-standing disputes, and paved the way for regional growth. In 2026, the Nation commemorated 250 years of partnership with the United States, and the U.S. Mint honored Oneida war heroine Polly Cooper with a 2026 Native American $1 Coin.

• Oneida Indian Nation sided with the Americans in the Revolutionary War and was thanked by Congress and President George Washington.

• Landmark pact between the Oneida Indian Nation, New York State, and local counties strengthened sovereignty and ended long-standing disputes.

• Yukwata'kali:ték Diabetes Program accredited since 2011.

• Yukwata'kali:ték Diabetes Program achieved reaccreditation by ADCES in 2022.

• Grand opening of the Mary C. Winder Community Center and Box Lacrosse Arena, a 90,000-square-foot facility.

• U.S. Mint honors Oneida war heroine Polly Cooper with 2026 Native American $1 Coin.

• Commemorating 250 years of partnership with the United States in 2026.

Philanthropic foundation reinvesting tribal enterprise revenues into community, cultural, and health initiatives for the Oneida Indian Nation and future generations.

1. 1Oneida Indian Nationoneidaindiannation.com
2. 2History & Culture Overviewoneidaindiannation.com
3. 3About Usoneidaindiannation.com
4. 4Health servicesoneidaindiannation.com
5. 5Oneida Nation Foundationwikidata.org