Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/92

Contributor - John Drost and Gloria Rodenburg

Title - A Visit to the Oneida Reserve

Topic - Canada

Rev. Hubert Ireland is the minister of Oneida House of Prayer, one of five Protestant congregations on the Oneida Reserve. He is a full blood Oneida and lives with his wife and family in Muncey, near the Reserve. The (independent) congregation counts about fifty members. The people gather for Bible study and Sunday School on Sunday afternoon while the more formal worship service is held in the evening. "What about Sunday morning," I asked with a bit of wonderment in my voice. "For most of our people, that is too early," answered Mrs. Ireland who we met at her residence. "The pace here is very relaxed," she added with a smile. In the summer the group often attends camp meetings (revival services) on the neighbouring reserves (Muncey and Chippewa). Mr. Ireland, a seasoned organist, often plays the organ in these services while his daughter assists at the piano.

Pastor Ireland is assisted by a young man named Ed Evans. Ed is white, but this "deficiency" does not make him less acceptable with the young people on the Reserve. He carries on an active youth program.

After our brief visit with the Irelands we drove to the Reserve, which is about five minutes away. Our first stop was at the Oneida House of Prayer. It is a simple structure consisting of the original building and a new addition which would suggest that the congregation is growing.

From the church we found our way to the Administration, or Band Office, seat of the local government. The office appeared a busy place and, from what we observed, is mostly staffed by women. We asked to meet with the administrator and moments later we were introduced to a kindly older lady who is the head of administration. We asked questions and discovered that the Oneida Reserve has been in existence since 1840 when the Oneida tribe first settled here. They had come from New York State, original homeland of the Oneidas, having been driven from there during the War of Independence in which they fought valiantly. It was here at the banks of the Thames, that they eventually purchased 5200 acres of land which is known today as the "Oneida Settlement - Oneida Nation of the Thames."

The Reserve, much like a municipality, is governed by a Chief and twelve Councillors who serve a term of two years. The Oneida Nation is one of the Six Nations' Iroquois Confederacy. Of a population of 3200, 1300 actually live on the Reserve. Our hostess told us natives on the Reserve are encouraged by the renewed determination of native people across Canada to secure their status and obtain the rights to which they feel they are entitled. Our visit was very pleasant and gave us a taste of life on the Reserve.

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