About

     As Native Americans across the country have faced suffering at the hands of colonialism, their contributions to current American culture are often overlooked. The Adirondack Mountains of northeastern New York are no exception to this. Before European arrival in the Adirondacks, the land was occupied by the Haudenosaunee, which includes the Six Nations: Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Tuscarora, and Oneida. These tribes set precedents in hunting, trade, athletics, community life, architecture, and overall lifestyle practices that have since been used to help others thrive on the harsh terrain and harsher climate in the Adirondacks. Additionally, Native names for places have either been changed completely or anglicized. Both the lack of credit given to Native Americans in the Adirondacks and the alteration of traditional names contributes to the erasure of Native American culture in the region. This project will counter the erasure of Native American culture in the Adirondacks today by highlighting their contributions. Using a timeline of maps, this project will compare the names of locations that have been modified for European convenience.

Questions or comments?

Email Maryam Ramjohn at ramjohnm@union.edu