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Oneida: “People of the Standing Stone”

The name “Oneida” (Onyota’a:ka) literally means “People of the Standing Stone.” According to their tradition, a large stone — called the Oneida Stone — would appear to mark where the people should establish or move their village. As the Oneida relocated through different places, the stone was said to “follow” them or to re‑appear, serving as a constant symbol of identity, unity and guidance. Historically, the stone was described by a traveler in 1796: he was shown a roughly 3½‑foot tall boulder, partly white and partly gray, that local tradition said the Oneida had carried during migrations — heavy enough to require great strength. The stone wasn’t just a landmark — it had spiritual significance. According to the account, some Oneida believed that rocks, mountains, wind, and thunder were animated by invisible powers that influenced human affairs, and the Oneida Stone was regarded as an image of a deity they worshipped. In short: the “Standing Stone” isn’t just a nickname — it reflects a central cultural and spiritual identity of the Oneida people, rooted in a legend where a powerful, sacred stone guided their movements and symbolized their enduring connection to land, community, and the natural world.