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Canku Ota
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(Many Paths)
An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
 
 
 
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From One Village To Another
 
 
by Oneida Indian Nation

Oneida Member Donates Award-Winning Dolls to Mohegan Council of Elders

These award-winning No Face dolls have a new home: with Mohegan Council of Elders Chief Marilyn "Lynn" Malerba.

Standing together the No Face Dolls, hand-crafted in a fashion to symbolize the Three Sisters, received a blue ribbon in the Great New York State Fair in 2013. Since then the sisters, corn, beans and squash, stood together in Linda Williams (Turtle Clan) home.

Now the award-winning No Face dolls have a new home: with Mohegan Council of Elders Chief Marilyn "Lynn" Malerba.

Linda, on behalf of the Oneida Nation Elders Program, presented the gift to Lynn in May when Elders program participants visited the Mohegan Council of Elders. In exchange the Mohegans presented the Elders with a hand-crafted Mohegan basket containing a hand-made pouch complete with 8-row flint corn grown in their Three Sisters Garden, a turkey feather, tobacco and a quahog shell. The basket, along with braided sweet grass, is on display at the Elders Center.

The Mohegans presented the Elders with a hand-crafted Mohegan basket containing a hand-made pouch with 8-row flint corn harvested from their Three Sisters Garden, a turkey feather, tobacco and a quahog shell. The basket, along with braided sweet grass, is on display at the Elders Center.

"I wanted them to be together," said Linda, explaining that each doll took on the characteristics of the Sustainers of Life who, according to Oneida legend, should never part: "Bean" wears green regalia and a pea-in-the-pod charm necklace, "Corn" sports regalia print that evokes Indian or multi-colored corn; "Squash" is decked out in pumpkin colors complete with a pumpkin charm.

Linda presented the Sisters to Lynn and included a laminated story "so they knew what it (The Three Sisters) mean to the Oneida." (Click here to learn more about the Three Sisters.)

"They were happy to receive it from Oneida Elders," said Linda. "We presented it as a thank you for all the hospitality they gave us."

The trip held in May allowed participants of the Elders Program a unique look at the Mohegan Council of Elders as they toured a new administration building complete with council chambers and offices, historical exhibits and recreation center. A Chiefs" Garden – a garden featuring life-size statues of past Chiefs – sits just outside the building.

"The building, the Council Room, it was beautiful in there," Linda recalled. "I presented the dolls to their chief and some of the Council Members were there."

Following the presentation the Oneida Elders participants got to tour the Mohegan casino, sample fine dining at various restaurants and tour the Mohegan"s museum.

The May 2015 trip is just one of many events offered during the calendar year geared toward Oneida Elders and other American Indian Elders in the area. The goal of the program is to facilitate socialization with others and promote healthy offerings and activities. Other events during the year include trips to stores, strawberry and blueberry picking at local farms, tours of local landmarks, and several activities based right at the Ray Elm Children and Elders Center.

For more information on this and other Elders programs call 315-829-8133.

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