HISTORY - TIMELINE

1142- Earliest date that scholars place of the formation of the Haudenosaunee. The Haudenosaunee believe that our League was formed much earlier than that.

1613- Two Row Wampum - a treaty between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch establishing relations.

1694- The French attack the Onondaga. The French find abandoned villages, decide to burn the crops of the Onondagas.

1754- Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin travel to the council of the Haudenosaunee to discuss the structure of the Haudenosaunee government. They report about the strength of the union of the "savages".

1775- At Ft. Pitt, George Washington asks the Haudenosaunee and its allies to remain neutral in the upcoming revolution. The Haudenosaunee and its 1500 delegates agrees.

1778– Haudenosaunee leaders state that the United States does not have the authority to draft our men into war.

1778- George Washington orders General Sullivan to destroy all of the Haudenosaunee and to burn their villages.

1778- The Hough Report. New York State sets up a commission to "Extinguish Title" of natives to their land in New York State

1784- Treaty of Ft. Stanwix - George Washington asks for Peace between the USA and the Haudenosaunee to end fighting and re-establish government to government relations.

1789- Onondagas complain to Governor Clinton that pioneer Asa Danforth is building a house along Onondaga Lake.

1794- Treaty of Canandaigua - George Washington asks for Peace between the USA and the Haudenosaunee to end fighting and reestablish government to government relations. Under article 7, it establishes a method for the 2 governments to manage individuals who breaks the laws inside the Haudenosaunee and United States territories.

1790- Federal Trade and Intercourse Act- at the request of the Haudenosaunee, President Washington makes a law stating no land can be aquired or purched unless it has the approval of the United States Government.

1790-1822- New York State continues to purchase land from the Onondaga without following the rules and regulations set forth by President Washington and the Federal government.

1794- Jay Treaty- States that the Haudenosaunee has free passage between the United States and Canada and does not have to pay a duty or toll to do so.

1850- The first school is built on the border of the Onondaga Nation. It is burned down.

1866- Union soldiers attack the Onondagas and the only casualties of the Civil War are in Onondaga County. In the attack, at least 14 men are killed while families scatter to safety.

1890- A second school house is built on the Nation. Students are taught in English only classes. The Onondaga language is prohibited. Young men and women are sent to Boarding Schools in western New York State and Pennsylvania.

1924- The United States enacts the 1924 Citizen Act act making all Natives American citizens. The Haudenosaunee refuse the act, referring to the Two Row Wampum as a binding agreement, as one government cannot impose laws on the other government and its people.

1935- The New Deal is brought to the Onondaga Nation when a brick school is built and a dam. Why we need a dam, know one knows.

1946- US passes a law stating that Native Americans can now have Freedom of Religion if they dissolve traditional governments and create a government modeled by the USA. The Haudenosaunee send messengers to Washington stating that laws cannot be passed to govern our people.

1955- Onondaga raises money to open our own volunteer fire department.

1965- Tadadaho George Thomas passes.

1968- Tadadaho Leon Shenandoah Sr. condoled by the Haudenosaunee.

1971- New York State tries to purchase more land to expand interstate 81 through the Onondaga Nation. Onondaga wins! NYS expands interstate 81 in neighboring LaFayette, New York.

1972- The Onondaga Indian School begins language and culture classes to teach students the Onondaga Language after the community boycotts school system.

1977- The first Haudenosaunee Passports are issued and an Onondaga delegation travels to Switzerland using the passports.

1980- At Onondaga, The Grand Council approves the initiation of the Iroquois Nationals. A field lacrosse team that competes with the other lacrosse Nations of the world; USA, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia.

1983- Onondaga Council permits individual owners to open tax free "Smoke Shops" on the Nation.

1983- American Indian Movement leader Dennis Banks seeks amnesty from the United States for his involvement in the Wounded Knee standoff in South Dakota. Dennis Banks stayed under the protection of the Onondaga Nation until an equitable agreement was drawn between the Haudenosaunee and the United States.

1987- The US Senate and House of Representatives pass a Bill stating the role the Haudenosaunee had on the founding fathers of the United States government.

1989- New York museums return many of our wampum to the Onondaga Nation. Wampum belts such as the Hiawatha, Tadadaho, and Dust Fan belt are back in our possession after being sold 92 years earlier.

1995- The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports that Gov. Pataki has called off Gallant Piper. Gallant Piper was a military solution involving 10,000 infantry troops to "settle" the taxation issue with the Haudenosaunee.

1992- Onondaga delegation including Leon Shenandoah, Oren Lyons and Audrey Shenandoah addresses the United Nations general assembly.

1995- The Onondaga Nation School receives major renovations and additional classrooms. Architects uses symbolism of the Haudenosaunee in its design.

1996- Tadadaho Leon Shenandoah Sr. passes.

1998- The New York State museum returns over 200 ceremonial masks to the Onondaga Nation.

1998- The first Nation owned and operated Smoke Shop is opened.

2000- Onondaga opens its own lacrosse/ice arena called Tsha'HonNonyen Dakwha'.

2001- Tadadaho Sid Hill is condoled by the Haudenosaunee.

2002- Onondaga Nation completed Phase 1 of the Water Work project to bring fresh clean water to the people on the Onondaga Nation.

2003- Onondaga works with the LaFayette School District to fly the Haudenosaunee flag at the High School in LaFayette, NY.

2005- The Onondaga Nation submits a land claim on their territories in central New York.