In brief
Onondaga Lake, once a sacred site for the Onondaga Nation, has become the focus of a land transfer proposal amid environmental and cultural discussions. Local officials express a desire to return a section of lakeshore land to the Onondagas, but progress has stalled due to tax issues and the ongoing debate around the controversial statue of Christopher Columbus. Onondaga leaders emphasize the significance of the lake to their identity, while acknowledging the challenges they face in reclaiming their ancestral lands.
GEDDES, N.Y. (AP) — Onondaga Lake holds a revered place in the history of the Onondaga Nation, having served as a sacred site long before the onset of industrial pollution and land appropriation by settlers. Local leaders have shown intent to return a section of lakeshore land to the Onondagas, but after 14 years, negotiations remain unresolved due to a variety of challenges, including taxation issues and recent controversies surrounding a statue of Christopher Columbus.
Betty Hill, a member of the Onondaga Nation, poignantly described the lake's significance: It’s not called Onondaga Lake for some arbitrary reason. They know that it belonged to us, they know that it was part of our history for thousands of years.” The history of their connection underscores a continuing struggle to reclaim their heritage.
Sacred lake, tainted lake
The Onondaga Nation views Onondaga Lake as more than a body of water; it is integral to their cultural heritage, remembered as the meeting place where leaders united various tribes to form the Iroquois Confederacy. However, the lake has suffered from decades of industrial abuse, contributing to its current status as one of the most polluted bodies of water in America. Although ongoing restoration efforts have improved its condition, there remain warnings against consuming local fish.
As Onondaga leaders advocate for the return of their historical lands, they emphasize rituals and ceremonies that are central to their identity. Sid Hill, the chief of the nation, reaffirmed this need in a letter addressed to Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon.
The path to land reclamation has been rocky; a nonbinding resolution in 2011 aimed to return a parcel of land near a shopping mall, but it was deemed too polluted. In 2016, another resolution supported a future transfer of unspecified land, but little progress has been made since.
Goodbye, Columbus?
Attempts to resolve these issues became entangled with discussions about a statue of Christopher Columbus, viewed by many Onondagas as a symbol of oppression. Efforts in 2020 to remove the statue faced opposition, complicating perceptions of partnership and healing in the land transfer negotiations. A suggestion to erect a statue of Hiawatha alongside Columbus was met with disdain by Onondaga leaders, who find it an inadequate compromise.
As the dialogue continues, both McMahon and Onondaga leaders express a tentative optimism for progress—but only if longstanding grievances, like tax payments on reacquired lands, are addressed. Meanwhile, Betty Hill emphasizes her people's commitment to their efforts: We’re not going to stop in this quest to gain a piece of this back for our people and our confederacy.”
