About Onondaga Nation Land Care

Onondaga Nation territory is home to people who live according to their original instructions among the woods, waters, and hills of their ancestors. The Onondaga care for the land as a sovereign nation independent of the United States — including maintaining all the infrastructure and services that New York State provides to settler communities. That includes operating a highly trained volunteer Fire Department to respond to all fires and emergencies on the Nation’s land and to back up the volunteer fire departments in the surrounding settler communities.

As land returns to the Nation as a result of centuries of advocacy and relationship-building, the need for critical land care services like the Onondaga Nation Volunteer Fire Department only grows.

Fighting fires requires special training and equipment — and it’s expensive. In 2024 the Onondaga firefighters must raise $230,000 to cover ten protective suits that allow them to fight fires safely. Without any support from the state, feds, or county, Onondaga firefighters are relying on donations to meet this critical need.

Can you help the Onondaga protect these newly-returned lands?

Onondaga Nation Land Care Benefit

Help raise $230,000 for critical firefighting equipment to care for lands being returned to Onondaga Nation