Sa:gwáyoˀ Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ / Cayuga People, We Returned

Sa:gwáyoˀ Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ/Cayuga People, We Returned is hosted by the Schweinfurth Art Center and the Cayuga Museum of History and Art from May 30–September 19, 2026, in Wahsgǫhǫ:, present-day Auburn, New York. Wahsgǫhǫ:, “Floating Bridge”, connected the Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ to the greater Hodinǫhsǫ́:nih Confederacy. There a bridge provided passage to Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ ancestors over marsh land toward Council meetings at Onǫdagehó:nǫˀ. Today, Wahsgǫhǫ: is simultaneously known as Auburn, New York.

The exhibition Sa:gwáyoˀ Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ/Cayuga People, We Returned features artworks, audio, video, artifacts, and archival documents bridge the circumstances of Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ displacement, diaspora, and return with a deeper appreciation of Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ place, society, and politics, as well as historic and contemporary modes of cultural expression. Uniting the Confederacy, Hodinǫhsǫ́:nih artists and makers throughout all Six Nations contribute their voices to this pivotal dialogue on Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ homecoming, resiliency, and repair.

Located at Wasco, Sa:gwáyoˀ Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ/Cayuga People, We Returned is an exhibition curated by Jolene Rickard, Ph.D. (Skarù·ręʔ / Tuscarora) with co-curators Audrey Chan (Brazilian-German and Taiwanese), Noah Mapes (Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe descent) and Nikki Dragone, Ph.D., J.D. (Irish/Sicilian/Hungarian/Dakota/Lakota & French Canadian heritage), allied Treaty and Haudenosaunee scholar and Schweinfurth Art Center Program Coordinator.

Special thanks to Hoya:neh Sam George and Stephen Henhawk (Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ / Cayuga) for their guidance.

Hodinǫhsǫ́:nih or Haudenosaunee and Onǫdagehó:nǫˀ or Onondaga are the way they are spelled in the Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ / Cayuga language and new orthography.

Special Events

Artist's Talk: Alex Jacobs-Blum

12 to 1 pm Tuesday, Aug. 11

Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ/Cayuga Wolf Clan artist Alex Jacobs-Blum will give an Artist's Talk about her three pieces in the exhibition "Sa:gwáyoˀ Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ / Cayuga People, We Returned." Her video "Infinite Frequencies" documents her travels through Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ homelands. "White Roots" envisions the roots of a white pine tree overlayed with a transparent image of the Dish with One Spoon wampum. "Bridge Between Two Worlds" tells the Hodinǫhsǫ́:nih/Haudenosaunee origin story.

The event is free and open to the public.

Artist's Talk: Eric Gansworth

2 to 3 pm Saturday, Aug. 15

Onoñda’gegá’/Onǫdagehó:nǫˀ/Onondaga Eel Clan artist Eric Gansworth will give an Artist's Talk about "Trinity," his piece in the exhibition "Sa:gwáyoˀ Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ / Cayuga People, We Returned." Through cultural and political symbols, the artwork address attempts made to challenge and divide the Hodinǫhsǫ́:nih/Haudenosaunee people.

The event is free and open to the public.

Curators' Talk: Dr. Jolene Rickard, Noah Mapes, and Audrey Chan

2 to 4 pm Saturday, Sept. 19

The three curators of "Sa:gwáyoˀ Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ/Cayuga People, We Returned" -- Dr. Jolene Rickard, Noah Mapes, and Audrey Chan -- will be talking about the concept and design of the exhibition, which spans the Schweinfurth Art Center and the Cayuga Museum of History & Art. The exhibition addresses the forced displacement of Cayuga peoples from their homeland, their slow return, and the continuing effect the diaspora has on them.

The event is free and open to the public.

Participating Artists

George Buck, Gayogohó:nǫˀ/Cayuga
Hannah Claus, Ganyę́gehó:nǫˀ/Mohawk
Arihhonni David, Ganyę́gehó:nǫˀ/Mohawk
Elizabeth Doxtater, Ganyę́gehó:nǫˀ/Mohawk
Tsioianiio Galban, Ganyę́gehó:nǫˀ/Mohawk
Eric Gansworth, Onǫdagehó:nǫˀ/Onondaga
Tony Gonyea, Onǫdagehó:nǫˀ/Onondaga
David Greene, Gayogohó:nǫˀ/Cayuga
Hayden Haynes
Stephen Henhawk, Gayogohó:nǫˀ/Cayuga
Dan Hill, Gayogohó:nǫˀ/Cayuga
Lorna Hill, Gayogohó:nǫˀ/Cayuga
Nandel Hill, Gayogohó:nǫˀ/Cayuga
Tom Huff, Seneca-Cayuga
Joseph Jacobs, Gayogohó:nǫˀ/Cayuga
Alex Jacobs-Blum, Gayogohó:nǫˀ/Cayuga
Marjorie Kaniehtonkie Skidders, Ganyę́gehó:nǫˀ/Mohawk
Sayo':kl^ Kindness-Williams, Onę́yotga:ˀ/Oneida
Arnie Longboat, Gayogohó:nǫˀ/Cayuga
Chandra Maracle, Ganyę́gehó:nǫˀ/Mohawk
Edmund Morris
Shelley Niro, Ganyę́gehó:nǫˀ/Mohawk
Jolene Rickard, Dahsgaó:węˀ/Tuscarora
Diane Schenandoah, Onę́yotga:ˀ/Oneida
Wayyne Sky, Gayogohó:nǫˀ/Cayuga
Natasha Smoke Santiago, Ganyę́gehó:nǫˀ/Mohawk
Raymond Sprague, Gayogohó:nǫˀ/Cayuga
Jeff Thomas, Onǫdagehó:nǫˀ/Onondaga
Sam Thomas, Gayogohó:nǫˀ/Cayuga
Jacob E. Thomas, Gayogohó:nǫˀ/Cayuga
Various artists from the collection of Grant Jonathan, Dahsgaó:węˀ/Tuscarora
Waylon Wilson, Dahsgaó:węˀ/Tuscarora