Leaders of the Onondaga Nation, near Syracuse, New York, were excited about New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s visit late last month. It was the first visit to the Onondaga Nation by a governor of the Empire State in more than 50 years. The enthusiasm of tribal leaders stemmed from the fact the governor initiated the visit to their homelands to discuss health care and education.
In a ceremony on Tuesday, Cornell returned ancestral remains and sacred items to the Oneida Indian Nation that had been in possession of the University for six decades.