New Exhibit Coming to the Cultural Center
New Exhibit Coming to the Cultural Center
The Onöhsegwë:de’ Cultural Center to Display Original Monument in New Gayë’twhgeh: Cornplanter Exhibit in August
The Onöhsagwë: de’ Cultural Center will examine the life of Seneca war chief Cornplanter and provide insight into life on the Cornplanter Grant in a new exhibit scheduled to open August 3, 2024. The major highlight of the exhibition will be the display of the public original Cornplanter monument.
The exhibit will draw on the legacy of Cornplanter by exploring Cornplanter’s significance in Onöndowaˊga:ˊ (Seneca) and American history through documents, photographs, and artifacts including Cornplanter’s pipe tomahawk which the New York State Museum returned to the Seneca Nation in 2020. The centerpiece of the exhibition is the permanent installation of the original Cornplanter monument. The monument, erected at Cornplanter’s Grant located in Pennsylvania’s Warren County in 1866, is believed to be the first memorial to stand in tribute to a Native American in the United States. An interactive display of Cornplanter’s children and grandchildren will offer descendants the opportunity to contribute valuable genealogical information about succeeding generations.
Although Cornplanter has been scrutinized and criticized for his accommodation of the new United States and its adverse influence on the Seneca, Seneca lands, and Seneca lifeways; he has also been celebrated for his significant role in leading his people through an immensely difficult transition that ultimately assured Seneca survival.
An added highlight at the August 3rd exhibit opening will be the attendance of the Cornplanter Descendants Association which will hold its annual picnic on the Cultural Center grounds. The picnic originated in 1934 with the reunion of the Lee family and was held on the Grant for many years. Because of the construction of the Kinzua Dam, the last picnic held on the Grant was in 1964. In recent times the CDA has designated the first Saturday of August as the date for the annual event.
“It makes total sense that the Onöhsagwë: de’ Cultural Center (OCC) have this exhibition, and to raise the Cornplanter monument. The Seneca Nation of Indians built the OCC in 2018 with this monument placement in mind. 6 years later, we are excited to bring that vision to life. The OCC is extremely happy to bring this amazing exhibit to the Seneca people, and to the Cornplanter descendants.” said OCC Director Hayden Haynes.
The exhibition is curated by SINM curator Randee Spruce and is made possible through the support of the Seneca Nation of Indians Executives and Council.
Submitted by the Onöhsagwë: de’ Cultural Center