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

June 6: Celebration of Sa:gwáyoˀ Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ/Cayuga People, We Returned

Join us for the Celebration of Sa:gwáyoˀ Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ/Cayuga People, We Returned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at the West End Arts Campus: Schweinfurth Art Center and Cayuga Museum of History & Art. The day will begin with the Ganǫ́hǫnyǫhk (Thanksgiving Address) given by Hoyá:neh Sam George (Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ/Cayuga, Bear Clan).

Events include performances by Dan Hill (Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ/Cayuga); Chris Thomas (Onǫdagehónǫˀ/Onondaga) and the Smoke Dancers; a Zoom talk by Dan Longboat Roronhiakewen (Ganyę́gehó:nǫˀ/Mohawk); workshops by Bernadette Scott (Onǫdawáˀga:ˀ/Seneca) and Melissa Sprague-McCann (Onę́yotga:ˀ/Oneida); traditional Haudenosaunee foods by Rick Lazore (Ganyę́gehó:nǫˀ/Mohawk) and Hazel Powless (Onę́yotga:ˀ/Oneida); and Hodinǫhsǫ́:nih/Haudenosaunee Arts & Crafts.

All events are FREE and open to the public. The exhibition is also open for free in both locations.

June 7: Cayuga/SHARE Farm Picnic

Join us 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at the Cayuga/SHARE Farm in Union Springs for their annual picnic for a day of artists, crafts, a potluck dinner, and musical entertainment! Among the musicians and bands performing are Corn Bred; Le Beaver Bleux; Brennan Longboat; Midnight Society; Jessie Youngquest & Friends; Mark Porter; Paleface and Friends; and Daygot (spoken word & rap). Lyle Logan (Seneca/Deer) will be offering a Celestial Sunflower painting workshop from 1 to 3 p.m.; registration required. The Cayuga/SHARE Farm is located at 4061 Truesdale Road Union Springs, NY 13160 on Cayuga Territory. The picnic is free; bring a dish to share.

June 10: Panel Discussion on the Treaty of Cayuga Ferry

Join us from 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 10 at the Cayuga Museum's Carriage House Theater for presentations and a panel discussion by three scholars talking about the Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ/Cayuga experience of forced displacement from and return to their homelands. Peter Whiteley (American Museum of Natural History, NYC) will present “The Treaty of Cayuga Ferry (1795) and its Precedents.” Steve Henhawk (Research associate with the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program at Cornell University) will present “Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫˀ Community Perspectives on the Treaty of 1795.” Professor Kurt Jordan (Cornell University) will present “Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫˀ Reoccupation of their Homelands after the 1779 Sullivan-Clinton Invasion.” The event is organized in conjunction with Sa:gwáyoˀ Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ/Cayuga People, We Returned, an exhibition on display at the Cayuga Museum of History & Art and Schweinfurth Art Center from May 30 through Sept. 19, 2026.

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