LandBack – Celebrating Onondaga Land Rights

Earlier this month marked the 20th anniversary of the historic filing of the Onondaga Land Rights Action. On March 11, 2005, the Onondaga Nation petitioned the federal court in Syracuse to declare that New York State violated Treaties, the US Constitution and federal laws when it took some 4,000 square miles of Onondaga Land (a large chunk of Central New York). The State of New York, the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, and five corporations were sued by Onondaga Nation for the illegal land takings and inflicting harm on the environment. Learn more on the Onondaga Nation's website.

Sadly, but not unexpectedly, the federal courts rejected the Onondaga's case. The courts agreed that their land was taken illegally, but used bogus arguments to claim that it would be disruptive and “unfair” to the settlers on the land to consider the call for justice, healing and reconciliation. The Onondagas have since take their case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights which has agreed to hear it.

Fortunately, the Onondaga and their non-Indigenous allies (myself among them) are persistent and recognize that social change comes from peoples' movements not from courts. Over the past 20 years, work to educate the public and seek justice and environmental protection has continued. Last year, the Onondaga celebrated the return of 1,000 acres of land just south of their current 7500 acre territory.

On March 10, about 150 people gathered to celebrate and learn about the work of the past and the path to a sustainable and just future for all in our region. 

Similar work for #LandBack and Indigenous sovereignty are underway across the country. As we all know, this is not a time to stand on the sidelines!

For land justice,

Andy Mager
SCW Coordinator

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