Photo 1: A white pine and paver featuring the Oneida Indian Nation seal will be dedicated Monday at SUNY Morrisville’s Norwich Campus in recognition of the Oneida Nation. (Submitted photo) Photo 2: Members of SUNY Morrisville staff visit the Shako:wi Cultural Center to learn more about the history and culture of the Oneida Nation. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH — SUNY Morrisville faculty and staff will dedicate a paver bearing the Oneida Indian Nation seal Monday at the entrance to SUNY Morrisville’s Norwich Campus to acknowledge their respect for and collaboration with the Oneida Nation.

The process began several years ago when Adjunct Professor Michael Foor-Pessin penned a land acknowledgement statement.

“SUNY Morrisville respectfully acknowledges that the land on which both the main campus and the Norwich campus are situated on is the unceded and ancestral land of the Oneida Indian Nation, known as the Onyota’aika or the People of the Standing Stone,” the statement reads.

The land acknowledgement was adopted by the college in 2025, and since then, faculty at the college have continued to work with the Oneida Nation to build relationships and collaboration.

In January, several members of the faculty visited the Shako:wi Cultural Center to learn more about the history of the Oneida and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

“Many had never been to the center before,” Foor-Pessin said. “It was a good introduction for them.”

Morrisville’s keynote address to faculty in January introduced a common vision between the Oneida People and the college. Several shared experiences are being explored.

“We definitely have the desire to build a partnership with the Oneida,” said Sarah Casscles, director of the Norwich Campus. “We support and recognize all the work the Oneida People have done over the years. This is another way to show our appreciation.”

In February, Foor-Pessin invited Ron Patterson of the Oneida Nation to his Comp 102 class to tell the Oneida Creation Story to his students.

The college has built a “three sisters garden” based on traditional Haudenosaunee agricultural practices of growing corn, climbing beans and squash together. Some Morrisville agriculture students were invited by the Oneida to harvest Indian corn, and further collaborations and partnerships will be explored in the future.

“It is fantastic to have this opportunity,” Casscles said. “They are always very open to continued communication and willing to come support these initiatives.”

The paver that will be dedicated Monday features the Oneida Indian Nation seal, which depicts a white pine tree known as the Tree of Peace. The seal is said to symbolize the unity of the Nation’s three clans, the Turtle, the Wolf and the Bear. Near the paver, a white pine tree has been planted.

“We are hoping for more collaboration in the future,” Foor-Pessin said.

Monday’s event will be open to anyone wishing to attend.