WISH CNY came together in July 2020 with the initial goal of rethinking, removing, and replacing the statue in downtown Syracuse, and sharing why this is important to each of us.
We understand that this change involves the courage of truth-telling and developing respect-in-action for the Native People (the Onondaga) whose land we live on. Each of our members has benefited and given to the Syracuse community, and most of us have immigrant Italian heritage.
We are passionate about public educational outreach, which is vital to begin collaboration for our shared future.
Latest News and Notes from WISH
Please join us in celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day, 2025
FREE, OPEN TO ALL, and INDOORS
Sunday, October 12th, 11 am-5 pm
Indigenous Peoples' Day Festival on unceded Onondaga land at Tsha' Thon'nhes (Where They Play Ball)
We are excited to be with you for our 3rd Indigenous Peoples' Day Festival on unceded Onondaga Nation land, Sunday, October 12th, 11 am - 5 pm, at Tsha' Thon'nhes (3370 State Rte. 11A, Nedrow): free, open to the public, and fun for everyone. Enjoy children's activities all day and our sensory/nursery room for a quiet space. We have SEVEN food vendors this year- come hungry!- and over 50 community organizations and fine art and craft vendors (card and cash accepted- ATM available at Firekeepers Diner on Rte 11). This event is ADA accessible for mobility devices; certified service animals welcome. KN95 masks for adults and children will be avilable at the greeters table. The organizers strongly encourage carpooling!
Program Schedule:
~11:00 am Opening Thanksgiving Address
~11:30 am Featured Artist: Peter Jones – Pottery
~12:00 pm Haudenosaunee Singers and Dancers – participatory social dancing
~12:45 pm Featured Artist: Barry Powless – Painting
~1:15 pm Onondaga Women Singers
~1:40 pm Speaker: Hilary-Anne Coppola – The Dangers of Nuclear Power
~2:00 pm Speaker: Jeanne Shenandoah – Celebration! Return, Reawakening, Restoration of 1,000 acres
~2:20 pm Featured Artist: Huggy (John) & Monique – Beading, Clothing and Quill work
~2:50 pm Haudenosaunee Singers and Dancers – participatory social dancing (second session)
~3:30 pm TO BE DECIDED
~4:00 pm Culture Dance Group featuring “Youth Smoke Dance Class”
~5:00 pm Closing Thanksgiving Address
Menu: BBQ w/ sides, grilled corn, strawberry drink, lemonade, soda, bison stew, burgers w/ sides, 3 sisters salad, smashburgers on hot scoons, corn soup, 3 sisters soup, cornbread, tacos on frybread, hot scoons, scoon dogs, hot dogs, strawberry shortcake, and more!
Art and fine crafts for sale: beadwork, beading supplies, beaded jewelry, leatherwork, stonework, bonework, sashes, sculpture, skirts, medallions, earrings, key chains, lanyards, art prints, woodwork, greeting cards, baskets, wampum jewelry, moccasins, herbal medicines, salves, tinctures, regalia, clothing, trade silver, flutes, beaded purses, velvet birds, shirts, and more!
Community organizations and sponsors who will be tabling: Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force, Onondaga Nation Education, Skä•noñh - Great Law of Peace Center, Onondaga Nation Farm, First Nations Employee Resource Group - National Grid, Zen Center of Syracuse, Syracuse DSA, EnergySmart CNY, CNY Solidarity Coalition, Upstate Medical University, University of Rochester, Cancer Services Program- Onondaga County Health Department, Native American Veterans Awareness, Syracuse University Engaged Humanities Network, Alliance for a Green Economy, Jewish Voice for Peace Syracuse, Onondaga County Public Libraries, Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation/Syracuse Peace Council, We of Italian and Syracuse Heritage CNY, Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, and Center for Native Peoples & the Environment.
Our other sponsors include: Unchained, ArtRage Gallery, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, Onondaga Community College Foundation, American Indian Law Alliance, Indigenous Values Initiative, and Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance.
Major funding provided by Central New York Community Foundation. Organized by Onondaga Nation community members, Tsha'Thon'nhes staff, Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation/Syracuse Peace Council, and We of Italian and Syracuse Heritage CNY.
Want to volunteer? Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904044AADAD2DA3FD0-59225691-3rdannual#/
How You Can Help!
Reach out to our Syracuse Common Council Members and asking them to support the removal and replacement of the Columbus Monument. Find your Council District and Counselor
Write a Letter to the Editor (250 words) or Guest Opinion (800 words) to the Post Standard | Syracuse.com. Email your letter to letters@syracuse.com. See Syracuse Post Standard Guidelines; questions can be sent to Marie Morelli at mmorelli@syracuse.com.
WISH CNY 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 or by contacting Sue Eiholzer at rsue@twcny.rr.com
Celebrating
Notable Italian and Italian-American Women
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.
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.
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