Why I’ll Visit the Oneida Nation Museum Again (and again)

Thankfully our morning at the museum wasn’t like the movie Night at the Museum. Saturday my son’s scout den visited the Oneida Museum. P and I recently went there on our own to explore more of the Oneida Nation. While he thought the exhibits were interesting, he didn’t want to listen to me tell him the stories behind each exhibit. He did a walk-through and waited somewhat patiently for me while I read every last word. It was a different story all together on Saturday.

We had a tour guide. Not just any tour guide, but Museum Educator, Jacob. Jake, as P now calls him, was a cool, young guy who really knew his stuff and knew how to relate to kids. He calmly, almost serenely, told the stories behind the two gorgeous murals near the entrance. The boys soaked up every word, their heads tilted up taking in the stories about the three sisters (corn, beans and squash) and the Oneida creation story.

They were just as interested throughout the rest of the museum, attentively listening as he told about corn husk dolls, long houses, wampum belts and Oneida’s proud history of veterans, going back to the Revolutionary War. Thanks to Jacob I still remember the name for a headdress in Oneida is ‘kastówe’ (pronounced to my ear “guess-tow-ee”). Even more impressive is a few of the scouts remembered it as well.

After our tour, Jacob took us through the museum, outside and into a trailer where a local artist, Barb, taught the scouts how to make pinch pots in the traditional Iroquois style (inasmuch as that’s possible with school-age boys). She showed us examples of finished pinch pots that were fired in the kiln. She described how artists used clay found on Oneida land and why the pots are blackened on the outside. While the boys and parents worked on their pots, she drew Iroquois designs for the boys to use as inspiration. Barb made such an impression on P, Sunday morning he asked if we could make more pinch pots. Which of course we did.

Watch this YouTube video for more on the how Barb is revitalizing traditional Iroquois pottery.

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Clearly, speakers and teachers like the ones at the Oneida Nation Museum make the difference! Sometimes no matter what we try to do to influence our children it just doesn’t work. Other adults like Grandparents, uncles and your crazy best friend from middle school have an appeal parents just don’t have. They’re mysterious, magical and bigger than life. Us? Well, we’re just “mom” and that’s okay, too.

Heading to the museum? Things to know.

• The museum is fairly small which means you can really take your time absorbing the exhibits (if your kids are patient enough).
• There’s a hands-on exhibit.  Your children can get their sillies touchies out before seeing the rest of the museum.
• Kids (and adults) can learn colors, animals and numbers in the Oneida language.
• If you don’t go with a group and don’t have a tour guide, there are lots of handouts and well written signs about each of the exhibits.
• There’s an educational nature trail on site.
• The museum has easily accessible and clean bathrooms.
• It’s affordable! $1.00 for children and $2.00 for adults. Any cheaper and it’d be free.
• For museum hours and directions click here.

I hope you enjoy the Oneida Nation Museum as much as we did!

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