Oneida
The historic home of the Oneida was in west central New York state. They belonged to the Iroquois Confederacy which was a democratic confederacy formed around 1300 A.D. This confederation later influenced the U.S. Constitution.
The Oneida women grew crops and the men hunted. The people lived in longhouses, up to 100 feet long, which were occupied by five or six families. A typical village consisted of some 60 longhouses inside a fortified stockade.
About the Flag:
The Oneida Nation logo symbolizes the unity of their Bear, Wolf, and Turtle clans. They are sheltered in the protection of the Great Tree of Peace. An eagle is placed at the top to warn of approaching threats. The white tree presents "the good mind," while the roots represent purity. The green of the pine symbolizes the promise that the Oneida Nation will never die as long as they adhere to the Great Law. Red represents the blood shed before and after the formation of the Confederacy. It is also to remind the Oneida that they are to promote peace and unity. The wampum belt located in the tree tops represents the Iroquois Confederacy. The purple of the wampum symbolizes peace.
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