Diane Schenandoah ’11, Honwadiyenawa’sek (“One who helps them”), is hosting a Haudenosaunee Welcome Gathering to be held on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle, Monday, Aug. 28, from 4 to 5 p.m.
Participants from last year’s Haudenosaunee Welcome Gathering (photo courtesy of Angela Ryan)
The Haudenosaunee Welcome Gathering is an event held on campus to welcome all incoming and returning students, faculty and staff for the 2023-2024 academic year, and for all to show respect for the Indigenous people on whose ancestral lands Syracuse University now stands. Schenandoah is a citizen of the Oneida Nation and a Wolf Clan Faithkeeper. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy is composed of Six Nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora.
“It’s important to acknowledge and recognize that there are Indigenous peoples still here and that we are all standing in the capital of the Haudenosaunee territory,” says Schenandoah. “This land is sacred. We welcome visitors to be part of this sacred place. Part of our teaching is that no one can own the land, so it’s important to remember that Syracuse University is part of a much bigger picture.”
At the gathering, speakers and dancers will set the stage for the new academic year. Hot scones and strawberry drinks will be offered. The hot scones are derived from traditional breads and the strawberry drink consists of strawberries, maple syrup and water. “This is significant because strawberries are the leaders of the plants and maples are the leaders of the trees. In this way we honor them,” says Schenandoah.
Schenandoah encourages students, faculty and staff to participate in the Haudenosaunee Welcome Gathering. “We are sharing our culture because the Earth is calling to us to pay attention, we require collective healing, and most importantly, we are inviting our community to live in gratitude,” she says.
For more information on this and other Hendricks Chapel events, visit chapel.syracuse.edu.
