(September, 2023) The Oneida Indian Nation, in partnership with Fort Stanwix National Monument and the Rome Historical Society (RHS), announces the return of the First Allies Craft Fair at Fort Stanwix in Rome on Saturday, September 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature Oneida and Haudenosaunee arts, crafts and social dance exhibitions, and is free to attend.
Visitors can peruse various authentic, hand-made Haudenosaunee items outdoors on the Fort’s lawn leading to the main entrance. One-of-a-kind jewelry, beadwork, wood carvings, textiles, ceramics, and much more will be available for sale by Haudenosaunee crafters. Corn soup and the popular strawberry drink also will be for sale.
The event will also feature three separate social dance presentations with Oneida and other Haudenosaunee dancers at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. The beauty and complexity of Haudenosaunee dance will be on full display and guests will be able to learn more about Oneida traditions and culture.
The First Allies Craft Fair also will include a screening of the documentary film “People of the Standing Stone: The Oneida Indian Nation, the War for Independence, and the Making of America” that will take place inside the Marinus Willet Visitor Center at the Fort. The 30-minute film is narrated by Academy Award-winning actor, Kevin Costner, and tells the story of the Oneidas’ decision to side with the American colonists in their fight for freedom and how they assisted the Continental Army in several key battles of the Revolution. Show times will be 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Fort Stanwix National Monument is located at 100 N. James Street in Rome. The First Allies name is a nod to the Oneida Indian Nation’s rich history as America’s First Allies, which included defending Fort Stanwix from a British siege during the Revolutionary War.
