Women of Italian and Syracuse Heritage
Central New York
We are a group from Central New York, joined in commitment to promote historical truth-telling, community healing, education and outreach; sharing the joy of Italian heritage; and valuing the diversity of communities in the CNY area.
COURT OVERTURNS JUDGES’ RULING, PAVES THE WAY FOR SYRACUSE TO REMOVE COLUMBUS STATUE
WISH supported the Onondaga Nation Land Give Back. One thousand acres in Tully will be returned to them. Read the Onondaga Nation’s article here.
The 2023 Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration and REFOCUS Film Showing was a huge success
Several hundred folks joined together in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day which featured a full day of children’s entertainment, artist demonstrations, dancing, singing, food, film, family and fun. It concluded with a film festival in honor and memory of Wooden Lacrosse Stick maker, Alf Jacques.
Thank you to all who participated, organized, sponsored, tabled, vended and visited this most worthwhile multi-generational event at the Everson Museum. Check out this news story from CNY Central. Click here
WISH CNY AND NOON FILE AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF
"History describes the people and places of the past in all their greatness and grimness, achievements and failures, nobility and notoriety. Commemoration elevates an act, event or individual by bestowing it with communal esteem and honor. The best histories present humans and their choices in the context of the complex and complicated days they live through... History is about who we were. Commemoration is about who we strive to be.”
Listen to the Oral Arugment here
"This quote, cited on page #19 of WISH/NOON’s Amicus Brief, is from the United States Naming Commission, charged with renaming military assets that commemorated the Confederacy or Confederate soldiers.
Members of WISH and NOON (Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation jointly filed an Amicus Curiae Brief. For the past several years, the members and leadership of WISH CNY and NOON have been actively involved in the community discussions concerning the removal of the Columbus monument.
Several members of both groups participated in the formal dialogue circles and committees created by the City of Syracuse to discuss, study, and make recommendations on the future of the Columbus monument.
NOON and WISH CNY have both been heavily involved in community education around the true and complete history of Christopher Columbus and the disastrous impacts of the colonization and subjugation of Native peoples triggered by his arrival in the Americas.
Read the complete Amicus Brief here.
Columbus monument is about who we were, not who we strive to be (Your Letters)
Published: Mar. 31, 2023, 8:15 a.m.
To the Editor:
On March 17, Women of Italian and Syracuse Heritage of CNY (WISH CNY) and Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation (NOON), jointly filed a “friend of the court” (amicus curiae) legal brief supporting the City of Syracuse’s appeal to reverse last year’s lower court decision against moving the Columbus monument. US efforts to remove Columbus statues are strengthening, as seen recently in Newark, New Jersey, where Harriet Tubman is honored instead.
On Monday, April 3, the New York state Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 4th Department, will hear oral arguments from the city and Columbus Monument Corporation (CMC).
The lower court and CMC consider the issue contractual, without full evaluation of pertinent issues. Our amicus brief supplies the higher court with full and historically accurate details regarding Columbus, and the progression of dedicated public engagement in Syracuse.
WISH CNY and NOON submitted this 75-page legal brief to demonstrate through clear legal arguments that CMC does not represent all Italian-Americans, and that the lower court manipulated its decision by granting an injunction. We argue that the court favored CMC’s interest and did not consider the public. The ban on moving the monument is a disservice to the broader public interest, which is well-documented over years of discourse, community dialogue, demonstrations and news publications.
Our brief also argues that moving the monument is not prohibited by the Preservation Covenant, as claimed by CMC and last year’s judgment. We assert the Preservation Covenant is terminated because the Columbus monument no longer serves its original purpose: to honor and commemorate Italian-Americans. Columbus’ role in history at the time of the monument’s construction was commemorated by dominant society, and his association with Italian-Americans promoted their social position and acceptance in America. That is no longer the case.
Our brief offers details of Columbus’ actions and the evolution of understanding his role in history. We submit that “whether viewed as the direct perpetrator of violent colonization of the Americas or simply the one to open the door for this historic human rights violation, the view of Columbus is no longer universally positive.”
We agree with the United States Naming Commission, which made recommendations in 2022 for renaming, relocating, modifying or removing military assets commemorating the Confederacy or Confederate soldiers. Their final report says history “... describes the people and places of the past in all their greatness and grimness, achievements and failures, nobility and notoriety. Commemoration elevates an act, event, or individual by bestowing it with communal esteem and honor. The best histories present humans and their choices in the context of the complex and complicated days they live through. The best commemorations highlight individuals, movements and moments that epitomize the highest values of our present and motivate us as we shape our societies of the future … History is about who we were. Commemoration is about who we strive to be.”
WISH CNY and NOON are committed to promoting education and greater perspective regarding this complex and controversial issue.
Hilary-Anne Coppola, Sue Eiholzer, Grace Fritzke, Tarki Heath, Andy Mager, Heather Law Pezzarossi, Cindy Squillace, Sidney Turner and Colleen Zawadzki
Replace Columbus Group
Syracuse
Art by Analena Provost
Read the response by The Indigenous Values Iniative and The American Indian Law Alliance. “The statement by the Vatican repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery, issued March 30th, is important and is representative of decades of work by Indigenous and non-Indigenous activists who have fought an often-lonely battle across the globe to bring attention to the racist underpinnings that still define so much of the legal mechanisms used to deny Indigenous peoples their rightful standing among the nations of the world.
When the Vatican finally comes to the realization it is mired in the genocidal mud of centuries of racist exploitation of Indigenous peoples around the world, a step towards acknowledging the need for reconciliation is welcome."
The statement by the Vatican repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery, issued March 30th, is important and is representative of decades of work by Indigenous and non-Indigenous activists who have fought an often-lonely battle across the globe to bring attention to the racist underpinnings that still define so much of the legal mechanisms used to deny Indigenous peoples their rightful standing among the nations of the world.
View information about the upcoming PANEL DISCUSSION and additional resources presented by the Indigenous Values Initiative and The American Indian Law Alliance under the tab entitled Education/Doctrine of Discovery above.
WISH CELEBRATED DIVERSITY AND OUR ITALIAN HERITAGE
Several WISH members joined in celebration of our Italian American heritage at the Crunch vs. Providence Bruins on 11/26, 2022 in honor of their “Celebrating Local Diversity,” night in response to the opening of the World Cup games. The Crunch lost in the last few minutes, but it was a VERY close game.
Cindy, Hil & Colleen tabled at the Syracuse Crunch game and shared information about our Italian American heritage
Celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and The Onondaga Nation’s Land Give Back
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Celebrate and Refocus at the Everson Museum
October 10th, 2022
Nearly three hundred attended this wonderful, collaborative celebration to mingle with Onondaga vendors and event sponsors and listen to speakers and Haudenosaunee singers at the Everson Museum of Art Plaza followed by four films which were well received! Social dancing helped the large group stay warm.
The celebration began with the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address. Speakers included Onondaga Turtle Clan Mother Freida Jacques, Oneida artist Olivia Bigtree (Turtle Clan), Black Artist Collective member Alice “Queen” Olom, Julio Urritia of the Syracuse Peace Council, and RIAC member Ionah Scully (Cree-Métis, Michel First Nation). Haudenosaunee singers provided music for participatory Haudenosaunee social dancing.
The REFOCUS FILM SERIES was co-sponsored with LIGHT WORK/ URBAN VIDEO PROJECT. This year, the series focused on traditional Haudenosaunee values in regard to land, with film titles including Onondaga Nation’s The Tully Mudboils, and Robin Kimmerer’s Gifts of the Land, a one-time showing of Gwendolyn Cates’ Dominion (a film based on her documentary entitled THE DOCTRINE), and Ryan Mackie’s drone footage of Onondaga land. Both Cates and Mackie’s films have been composed specifically for this event.
The Onondaga have a right to be heard. Judge Neri released his decision in favor of the Columbus Monument Corporation, deciding against the City of Syracuse’s plan to remove and replace the Columbus Statue.
Here is the judge’s decision and the City’s appeal of that decision.
How you can help
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How you can help 〰️
You can help by reaching out to our Syracuse Common Council Members and asking them to support the removal and replacement of the Columbus Monument. These resources can assist you in the process.
Click on the map above to see what district you reside in. Then go to the resource list in the link below, to find the list of Common Councilors and each of their districts.
Take Action by Writing a Letter to the Editor (250 words) and Guest Opinions (800 words. Email your letter to letters@syracuse.com
Questions can be sent to Marie Morelli at: mmorelli@syracuse.com
Click here for instructions for the Syracuse Post Standard
View the video recordings of these two powerful workshop sessions here:
Session # 1-GoodBye Columbus: Time for Justice, Time for Healing https://youtu.be/QnDgKOlUIOA
Session #2-Why Removing Monuments Matters: Seeking Justice in Syracuse https://youtu.be/rtfGUS_8QyM
In this image about 30 people are standing outside the steps of the Onondaga County Court House, many holding signs which say, Celebrate Diversity, Replace Columbus. Five people are holding a banner which says, “Columbus Didn’t Discover Anything, 1,000s Of Native Nations Were Already Here.”
REPLACE AND REFOCUS: 2021
Dynamic Support at the Monument, March to the Everson then Haudenosaunee Films Celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2021
More than 150 people enjoyed a perfect evening as we listened to powerful presentations at the monument, followed by a participatory silent vigil. Then we marched to the Everson to watch a selection of amazing short films by Rematriation Magazine, which were displayed on the exterior wall of the Everson Museum.
Many thanks go out to Light Work ,Urban Video Project, Syracuse Peace Council, Rematriation Magazine, and others for this wonderful night of solidarity and celebration. We gratefully recognize Indigenous Values Initiative, Resilient Indigenous Action Collective, and Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center for their contributions to this memorable community event.
WISH PUBLICLY SPEAKS OUT IN FAVOR OF REPLACING THE MONUMENT
Replace Columbus statue to make amends to the Onondaga (Guest Opinion by WISH and NOON)
Updated: Oct. 07, 2021, 2:55 p.m. | Published: Oct. 07, 2021, 12:20 p.m.
“After decades of concern from diverse community members, and increasing attention in the past several years, our city is finally in the process of replacing the Columbus statue in the center of downtown with a broader display honoring all those who have contributed to Syracuse, including Italian-Americans and the Onondaga People. Unfortunately, a small, vocal and well-funded group of Italian-Americans continue to resist the ongoing community-led changes. While total agreement on important projects is ideal, we must continue to work together based upon the values of diversity, equity and inclusion. These grounding principles have emerged from more than three years of discussions to help us build a better Syracuse for all.”
WISH PROMOTES OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
Onondaga Nation Amicus Brief on Columbus Statue
As of September 9th, 2021, the Onondaga Nation Amicus Brief is now available to the public. The Amicus Affirmation provides an in-depth historical account of the Onondaga Nation’s living history with the Columbus Statue.
Celebrate Diversity,
Replace Columbus
As part of a broad public relations campaign, Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation, in collaboration with Women of Italian and Syracuse Heritage, is distributing lawn signs with the message "Celebrate Diversity - Replace Columbus" in the greater Syracuse area.
Lawn signs are available at Syracuse Cultural Workers, 400 Lodi St., Syracuse on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm. For information about additional ways to get a sign, contact Sue Eiholzer: Sue Eiholzer: rsue@twcny.rr.com.
WISH CELEBREATES
Notable Italian and Italian-American Women on our FaceBook and Instagram site.
The United States has typically prioritized honoring men in history. Here is a non-comprehensive list of resources of women with Italian heritage., worthy of being remembered, both contemporary to Columbus and more recent. Look on the Education link above for more info.
Our First Effort: Rethinking, Removing and Replacing Columbus
Letter to the Mayor’s Committee
August 15, 2020
We, ten women of Italian-American ancestry, have seriously considered the monuments to Columbus and their symbolic statement of Italian immigrant pride. Italians have a deep and rich history of which we can be proud. However, we know that this monument of Christopher Columbus, erected in Syracuse in 1934, is no longer a suitable symbol of pride, and not one that we would offer to represent our Italian ancestry. Given the truth of his missions, including slavery, betrayal, and violence toward Indigenous Peoples in the name of Spain and Christendom; we respectfully request the removal of the statue and a rethinking of this “idol.”
Our Italian ancestry is something each of us views differently, but each with respect for the legacy of our ancestors. It is a human attribute to express pride in one’s heritage, but we are obligated to honor historical truths, not myths. We are looking with honesty at our past while presenting a message of hopeful change for the way we show respect to our Syracuse Italian ancestry.
The complete document is available on our In The News page.
Say ‘ciao’!
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