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Vol. 1, No. 23 the Treaty of Canandaigua and Annuity Payments

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Vol. 1, No. 23 the Treaty of Canandaigua and Annuity Payments The Treaty of Canandaigua and negotiate another treaty with the Six Nations and maintain the peaceful and friendly relationship.2 the Oneida Annuity Payments Article two of the treaty states: “The United States acknowledge the lands reserved to the The Treaty of Canandaigua (see Figure 1)1 Oneida…to be their property: and the United States was signed between members of the Six Nations will never claim the same, nor disturb them, or and the government of the United States of America either of the Six Nations, nor their Indian friends, on November 11th, 1794. This remarkable treaty residing thereon, and united with them, in the free was a building block for future relations between use and enjoyment thereof…”3 the Oneida and the U.S. and In addition to the represents one of the few times recognition of the sovereignty of the new American government the Six Nations, article six of the recognized the sovereignty of the Treaty of 1794 solidified the birth Oneida and others of the Six of the Oneida annuity payments. Nations. In addition, the promise Every year since 1794, the Oneida of a special annuity payment have received the amount of would be made to the Six $1,000. In the early 1900s the Nations. That provision gave amount dispersed to the Wisconsin birth to the Oneida annuity Oneidas began to increase until in payment, which is paid each 1937, the amount peaked at year. Although this treaty is over $1,800. From its inception until 200 years old, its validity and the mid 1900s, the annuity strength continues to endure payment was distributed equally to today and will likely continue to all tribal members in the form of a influence diplomacy for centuries per capita payment. 4 to come. Although the amount Following the American distributed was never a significant Revolution, it was necessary for amount when divided among all the years of bitterness and tribal members, it invoked a wounds of the war to come to a mixture of feeling in those who close. Carrying on with the received it. While most people dominant European tradition, viewed the act with a kind of Figure 1: The 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua representatives of the U.S. which is housed at the National Archives reverence because of the level of Federal government met together in Washington DC. Two pieces of cloth commitment it showed on the part with the Iroquois delegates to were attached to the document, one signed of the United States Government, sign a peace treaty. Although by George Washington making it law. many people expressed their written treaties were not a frustrations with the task of traditional way of establishing peace for the retrieving such a small payment. Oscar Archiquette Iroquois, treaty making was not a new concept to was a leader among the Oneida for a number of them. Several treaties had previously been made years, and commented on the process of retrieving with the American and European governments. payment for the annuity. Noting that each tribal Prior to 1794, treaties had confirmed that the Six member was receiving about 50 cents per year, Nations would be able to live in their lands Archiquette said “it costs us more than 50 cents undisturbed by the citizens of the United States. when we go after our Annuity Money…” According However, the Iroquois were still facing the ever to Archiquette, in about 1936 or 1937 the growing encroachment of non-Indian people which government started sending checks (See Figure 2)5 amounted to a violation of the previous treaties and to the Oneida and they no longer had to travel to George Washington sent Timothy Pickering to retrieve their annuity payment.6 Figure 2: This annuity check was made payable to Winona C. Skenandore of Milwaukee Wisconsin and is dated March 16th, 1951. Checks like these were discontinued in the mid 1900s. If the full $1,800 annuity were distributed to tribal members today, each tribal member would receive approximately 11 cents. Several times in the past the Federal Sources: Government has tried to negotiate a settlement to discontinue these payments with a distribution of 1 Figure 1: From one large sum. All of the Six Nations have long http://www.oneidaindiannation.com/about/sovereignty/2 been opposed to any settlements because it is feared 6839539.html Accessed October 2009. 2 that the treaty would be deemed invalid after Jemison, G. Peter and Anna M. Schein, eds. termination of the annuity payments. Treaty of Canadaigua 1794: 200 years of Treaty During the late 1950s and 1960s payments Relations between the Iroquois Confederacy and the United States. (Santa Fe: Clear Light, 2000), by the Federal Government to the Oneidas became p. 30. irregular and action was taken to reclaim several 3 th Jemison and Schein, p 296. missed payments. November 30 , 1950, a lawsuit 4 Cornelius, Carol. U.S. Continues Annuity was filed with the Indian Claims Commission to Payments to the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin from receive all annuity payments that were never issued. 1794 Canandaigua Treaty to the Present Day. In 1974, 1995, and again in 2004, lump sum (Oneida Cultural Heritage Department, No. 22), p 5. payments were awarded to the Oneida Tribe of 5 Figure 2: Annuity Check from the Collections of Wisconsin based on the missed payments and their The Oneida Cultural Heritage Department, Green accumulated interest. Bay, WI. 6 Oscar Archiquette to Floyd Lounsbury, February The annuity payments continue to the st present and each year these funds are accumulated 1 , 1939, Guy Elm, translater. Collections of The Oneida Cultural Heritage Department, Green Bay, in an account that is monitored by the Oneida Trust WI. Committee. .
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