In 1677, Haudenosaunee and English allied through the Covenant Chain agreement, and fought the French and their Huron allies– historical enemies of the Confederacy. Onondaga Nation, initially neutral in the American Revolution (1775-83), allied with the British and majority of Haudenosaunee after the continental army attacked their main village on April 20, 1779. After the conclusion of the war and British defeat, they followed Mohawk leader Joseph Brant to Six Nations territory in Ontario. In 1794, the Nation signed the Treaty of Canandaigua with the USA, ensuring their right to their homelands. Between 1788 and 1822, the Onondaga Nation lost approximately 95% of their land through a series of illegal "takings" by New York state.
Today, Onondaga Nation consists of a 7,300-acre territory south of Syracuse, a portion of their ancestral territory, operating outside the general jurisdiction of New York state. Governed by a Council of Chiefs, they maintain their sovereignty, laws, language, customs, culture, and continuing the practice of traditional ceremonies and religious philosophies that predate their contact with Western settlers. The Onondaga Nation continues to maintain their traditional system of government with the Longhouse serving as the seat of government, a symbol of security, and a place of spiritual, cultural, and social activities. The Onondaga Nation are known internationally as peaceful people, with a heritage of diplomacy, government/law, and an oral tradition passed down through generations.
