Canandaigua Treaty Celebration to Honor the Two Row
Join Haudenosaunee people and allies on November 11 to celebrate the Canandaigua Treaty and honor the Two Row Wampum Treaty. This year’s annual commemoration in Canandaigua New York will highlight the 400th anniversary of the Two Row in addition to the marking the 219th anniversary of the Canandaigua Treaty.
In November 1794, the treaty was negotiated and signed by Colonel Timothy Pickering, official agent of President George Washington, and sachems from the Six Nations (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora). The treaty brought peace between the two, and recognized the sovereignty of the Six Nations to govern and set laws as individual nations.
Monday, November 11 begins with a Native Craftsfair and information tables at 10:30 am at Canandaigua Primary School, 96 West Gibson St., Canandaigua. A parade, led by the Haudenosaunee Council of Chiefs, will leave the school at 1:30 pm heading several blocks to the Ontario County Courthouse. A traditional commemoration ceremony will take place on the courthouse lawn at 2 pm. Between 12 noon and 4pm attendees are welcome to view one of the only two copies of the treaty at the Ontario County Historical Society.
At 6 pm Jake Edwards, who sits on the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs, will give a keynote speech discussing the 400th anniversary of the Two Row Wampum Treaty back at the school. The evening will close with Haudenosaunee Social Dancing.
All activities are free and open to the public. This event is organized by the Friends of Ganondagan and is made possible through the collaboration with the Canandaigua City School District, City of Canandaigua. It is sponsored by the Haudenosaunee Peace & Trade Committee, Mohawk Nation Council, Tonawanda Seneca Nation, Tuscarora Nation of Indians, and the Seneca Nation of Indians. Visit ganondagan.org/TreatyCelebration.html or call 585-742-1690 for more information.
There will be a Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign table full of information, merchandise and the Declaration of Intent for people to sign. To help staff the table, contact Cayla Naranjo, cjnaranj@syr.edu or 917-232-7100.