Oneida Nation and SWF Convergence at The Commonwealth
On Thursday, September 26, an intergenerational group from the Oneida Nation joined Sweet Water Foundation (SWF) for a Convergence at The Commonwealth that included shared labor on the Community Farm, a farm-to-table meal, a tour of The Commonwealth, and a Civic Arts Talk and Workshop in Civic Arts Church. The Convergence underscored the importance of storytelling, sharing knowledge, and the profound possibilities inherent in values-based practices focused on the regeneration of land and ecosystems.
Read more about SWF and Oneida Nation’s Convergence at The Commonwealth.
Roots of Sweet Water Foundation + Oneida Nation Connection
SWF was first connected with the Oneida Nation through Tony Kuchma, the Oneida Nation Wetland Program Coordinator. Tony was introduced to SWF Executive Director, Emmanuel Pratt, via Debra Shore, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator for Region 5, which includes both the Oneida Nation and SWF’s The Commonwealth. Shore first encountered SWF while serving as a Commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. During this time, she experienced SWF’s well-ness at The Commonwealth exhibit on water conservation and joined the US Water Alliance’s Imagine A Day Without Water in October 2020, which was hosted in the Thought Barn at The Commonwealth.
In 2021, Shore transitioned to the EPA, where she became acquainted with the Oneida Nation's extensive work in land restoration, particularly wetlands and prairies. She recognized the shared commitment to ecological and cultural restoration between the Oneida Nation and Sweet Water Foundation. To foster collaboration, Shore facilitated an introduction, leading to an enriching and regenerative exchange at The Commonwealth.
A Day of Shared Harvest and Exchange
The Oneida delegation's time at The Commonwealth was filled with collaborative activities centered on land stewardship and food cultivation. Members of both communities celebrated the abundance of the season, harvesting tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants from the Community Farm and persimmons from the Healing Garden. They then worked together in rhythm to transplant seedlings, filling one Hoop House with new seedlings in just 15 minutes!
In the afternoon, everyone shared in a harvest celebration, enjoying a farm-to-table meal in the Thought Barn. The meal featured a vegan Jambalaya made with fresh produce from SWF's farm and seasoned with homegrown chili pepper powder gifted by Tony and his wife Jen, from their farm, Kahulahele. This communal meal celebrated the shared value of "eating the seasons," an Oneida Nation tradition that emphasizes the connection between land, food, and community by preparing foods when they are naturally in season. The Convergence also revealed a shared commitment to cooperative economics and community-based approaches to food production – exemplified by the Oneida Nation’s cooperative farming and SWF’s community-based agriculture.
Prairie Restoration and Community Dialogue at The Prairie
The Convergence extended beyond the Community Farm. That afternoon, a tour of SWF’s Prairie brought together more than 30 people, including members of the Oneida Nation, SWF staff and community members, and students and faculty from Lake Forest College. Together, they discussed the ecological and cultural significance of prairie ecosystems.
The Oneida Nation’s deep experience with the restoration of a 350-acre site, along with thousands more acres of native wetland, prairie, grassland, and forests, offered valuable insights for SWF's ongoing efforts to cultivate a micro-prairie. The discussion emphasized the role of prairie restoration in fostering biodiversity, community healing, and intergenerational learning , ultimately regenerating our relationship to and responsibility for the land.
Civic Arts Talk and Workshop at the Civic Arts Church
The Convergence culminated in a Civic Arts Talk and Workshop at the Civic Arts Church. During the talk, SWF recapped the history of the relationships, connections, and shared struggles that led to the day’s Convergence with the Oneida Nation and SWF at The Commonwealth. A brief presentation showcased photos of Debra Shore’s first engagement at The Commonwealth in 2020, her subsequent visits over the years, background on the Oneida Nation’s restoration work, and the Sweet Water Community’s cultivation of the Prairie. Lake Forest College attendees also experienced a glimpse of the morning’s activities through photos highlighting the journey that brought everyone together. The talk continued with members of the Oneida Nation sharing their experiences with land restoration, offering insights into their deep knowledge and practices. The talk concluded with a reflection on the significance of these types of connections and convergences, emphasizing their potential to spark regeneration and collaboration.
Following the talk, participants engaged in a Civic Arts Workshop during which they crafted smudge sticks, created nature prints, and decorated SWF's signature "Prop Blocks." Prop Blocks are part of an Urban Ecology and Civic Arts project that extends the life cycle of wood by transforming wood scraps from SWF’s Work-Shop into plant propagation blocks. This collaborative artmaking provided a tangible expression of the shared values and aspirations that emerged throughout the visit, solidifying the connections forged between the Oneida Nation and Sweet Water Foundation.
Thank you to our guests from Oneida Nation. The entire SWF team is looking forward to staying connected.
