ONEIDA, WI – The Oneida Nation held the official grand opening of the new Kahnekano·lú Cultural Center, located at 760 Airport Road in Oneida. Kahnekano·lú (Precious Water), pronounced gu-nay-gu-no-lu, is the Oneida name for the new cultural center. Water played a vital role in the Oneida Nation’s decision to settle near Duck Creek in the 1820s because its water provided essential resources and sustenance for the tribe.
Kahnekano·lú is a 21,000 sq. ft. facility that will host many new exhibits, interactive displays, including an expanded gift shop along with programming for visitors of all ages.
In 1979, Oneida opened a small museum with a small collection and has grown to an inventory of over 3,000 objects; 12,000 photographs; and 25,000 pieces of archival material.
“This new location is much more visible and accessible to visitors,” said Stacy Coon, Cultural Center Director. “We are pleased to have a facility that is conducive to educating our visitors about our history, culture and traditions. It’s always been our desire to foster community involvement and bridge the gap between past and present traditional and contemporary art forms. Our ability has been expanded to preserve our cultural identity and empower Oneida people to tell our own story.”
