ONEIDA, N.Y. — The Oneida Indian Nation recently formally opened its new 90,000-square-foot Mary C. Winder Community Center and Box Lacrosse Arena, providing a first look to its members. Located within the Oneida Neighborhoods project, the center offers resources to support cultural engagement and community building for the Oneida Indian Nation and represents a historic […]
ONEIDA, N.Y. — The Oneida Indian Nation recently formally opened its new 90,000-square-foot Mary C. Winder Community Center and Box Lacrosse Arena, providing a first look to its members. Located within the Oneida Neighborhoods project, the center offers resources to support cultural engagement and community building for the Oneida Indian Nation and represents a historic investment in strengthening the community. “The Mary C. Winder Community Center is a profound statement to all who see it on the vibrancy of our community and proof that by restoring our homelands, we have brought to life the dreams of our ancestors,” Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter said in a press release announcing the grand opening. “It represents our incredible history in this region spanning from time immemorial until today and shows that we will always be here until the end of time. The Oneida people can take great pride in this incredible symbol of our resiliency and legacy today and for generations to come.” The grand-opening ceremony on June 28 included raising the Oneida Indian Nation flag outside the community center along with a community breakfast in the center’s multipurpose room and a Haudenosaunee social dance exhibition in the new field house. The field house includes a box-lacrosse field that honors the role of the game in the Oneida and Haudenosaunee culture. Halbritter and the center’s general manager, Nichola Diaz, shared remarks with those in attendance. Members were also able to tour the facility and sign up to access its amenities. Those amenities include areas for Oneida language education and cultural programming, community gathering spaces, a library, an Oneida historical exhibit, an accessible swimming pool, a gymnasium with fitness center and running track, and a children’s play area. Ahead of the grand opening, Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter welcomed U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to visit the center as part of her listening tour with several tribal nations in New York state. The Oneida Indian Nation has about 1,000 enrolled members. The nation’s enterprises, which employ more than 5,000 people, including Turning Stone Resort Casino, YBR Casino & Sports Book, Point Place Casino, The Lake House at Sylvan Beach, The Cove at Sylvan Beach, Maple Leaf Markets, SavOn Convenience stores, Verona Collective, an RV park, and marinas. Proceeds from those enterprises help provide essential services to members including housing, health care, and education incentives and programs.