Passage of Peace

Sharing a message of peace and raising awareness

Welcome to the Passage of Peace, a holiday installation created by the Oneida Indian Nation.

Throughout the holiday season, the Passage of Peace will be located on Oneida Indian Nation lands off I-90 near Exit 32 and Exit 33. The illuminated public artwork was created in 2021 to draw attention to the most important issues affecting Indian Country today with a beautiful display of illuminated teepees. 

This year, the Passage of Peace seeks to raise awareness about the lasting impact of Indian boarding schools on Members of the Oneida Indian Nation and in tribal communities across the United States, as well as to express support for bipartisan legislative efforts to establish a commission that will address the harm they inflicted.

A Legacy of Cultural Genocide and Generational Trauma

Between 1869 and the late 1970s, hundreds of thousands of Native American children attended boarding schools far from their families and tribal communities. These schools sought to achieve assimilation through denial of Native culture and language. 

Today, Native American communities grapple with the lasting effects of these boarding schools, including mental and physical illness, substance abuse, violence, poor access to education, and more. 

Illuminating an Enduring Symbol of Native American Identity

Returning for 2022, the Passage of Peace once again seeks to share a message of peace with all who live and work within or visit the Oneida Indian Nation’s ancestral homelands. This year’s installation comprises ten beautifully lit teepees, including two illuminated in orange – the color used by advocates to raise awareness around the impact of the forcible removal of Native children to attend residential boarding schools.

 

“The Passage of Peace allows us to share a message of peace with all who visit our ancestral homelands while raising awareness about important issues like the long-lasting negative impact of boarding schools on Native people. These schools left an indelible imprint on the Oneida Indian Nation and all Native people, and they are not a distant memory for us. Survivors live among our communities and the trauma they endured echoes through families. We hope that the Passage of Peace will help raise awareness about this tragic history.”

Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation Representative

The Passage of Peace will be visible from Oneida Indian Nation lands on each side of I-90 near Exit 32 and Exit 33 from November 21, 2022 through the holiday season.