Our goals are to:
- Promote understanding of and respect for the Onondaga Nation, as well as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and all indigenous peoples.
- Provide accurate information about the Onondaga Nation and their current issues of concern, such as their Land Rights Action.
- Challenge racism towards the Onondaga, Haudenosaunee and all indigenous peoples through education, building relationships, and encouraging shared experiences between the people of our Nations.
- Support and collaborate with the Onondaga Nation and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy in their initiatives to promote environmental healing and restore respectful relationships between the governments of our respective Nations.
- Advocate at all levels of our government for just and fair treatment of the Onondaga and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, including clear recognition of their sovereignty.
- Work for the full implementation of the “UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
NOON Steering Committee
The NOON Steering Committee tracks progress on projects, discusses issues and sets the direction for our work. Members may choose to work on a specific project, as their time and inclination permits.
You are welcome to attend a Steering Committee meeting.
This can be a good way to learn about our projects and see where you might become more active with NOON. Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7 PM, currently via ZOOM.
Since new people often have a lot of questions, we recommend talking with one of our contact people before the meeting.
NOON History
NOON began in 1999 at a time when there were active land claims by the Oneida Nation to the east of Syracuse and by the Cayuga Nation to the west. In both cases, the primary response to these efforts for justice by non-Indigenous people in those areas was hostility. People were responding out of ignorance and fear. A group of people began meeting, with the understanding that at some point the Onondaga Nation would go to court seeking justice based on the same history, legal and ethical principles. We thought that by working in solidarity with our Onondaga neighbors and seeking to educate our fellow non-Indigenous people that we could lay the groundwork for a more thoughtful and supportive response.
When the Onondaga Nation filed their historic Land Rights Action in 2005, the public response was largely positive, with none of the reactionary backlash seen in nearby communities. NOON credits the Onondaga Nation for the careful, diplomatic and compassionate way that they framed their call for justice. We also hope that our efforts played a role as well. We continue our steadfast work to educate and advocate for justice, healing and reconciliation.