The Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC) has unveiled a new permanent exhibition that brings to life the rich heritage and cultural continuity of the Hodinöšyö:nih (hoe-dee-no-SHOW-nee) people, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy. This exhibit offers a fascinating journey into the narratives and experiences of Indigenous Peoples, or Native Americans, particularly focusing on the original peoples of New York State, such as the Hodinöšyö:nih. Curated by Jamie Jacobs (Hoya’danä:gwa’d, Tonawanda Seneca, Turtle Clan), this exhibit opened on December 6, 2024. It provides an immersive experience that aims to educate and inspire visitors of all ages, particularly with those between the fourth and eighth grade. Kids can walk through a glass longhouse, analyze and talk about contemporary Hodinöšyö:nih artists’ works, and explore much more in this hands-on exhibit.
The exhibit is designed to highlight the concept of “narrative sovereignty” amongst Indigenous Peoples, particularly the Hodinöšyö:nih, allowing them to share their stories in their own words and through their own art. “The exhibit features quite a few layers of different subjects,” explains Jacobs, managing curator of the Rock Foundation collections at RMSC. “One being that Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples were able to have narrative sovereignty, so the artists were able to provide their stories with their own words.” According to Jacobs, the RMSC has collaborated with Indigenous artists in commissioning new artworks that are now on display in this exhibit.
These artists include: Negwë:nö’döh Hayden Haynes (Seneca Nation of Indians, Deer Clan–bone and antler carver), Katsitsionni Fox (Akwesasne Mohawk, Bear Clan–potter and filmmaker), Haiwënta’ Kenith “Nek” Jonathan (Tonawanda Seneca Territory, Wolf Clan–lacrosse stick maker), Iakonikohnrio Tonia LoranGalban (Akwesasne Mohawk, Bear Clan– basketmaker), Natasha Smoke Santiago (Akwesasne Mohawk, Turtle Clan– ceramicist), Ganöwögë:n Coreen Thompson (Tonawanda Seneca Nation, Bear Clan– textile artist), and Ganawödiyo Kyle Dowdy, Jr. (Tuscarora Nation, Bear Clan–wood carver).
This exhibit incorporates the perspectives and stories of the Hodinöšyö:nih people and helps others in that community to “reconnect with traditional material culture and knowledge” through rematriation.
This approach is part of a broader movement to reconnect museums’ cultural artifacts with the Indigenous communities from which they originate, like the Hodinöšyö:nih people. Historically, museums have been criticized for practices that involved “extractive” acquisition of these culturally significant artifacts, as well as information, often without proper context or consent from the communities they represent. Although museums have frequently displayed and interpreted Hodinöšyö:nih histories and heritage in the past, this was often done without actual Hodinöšyö:nih perspectives and permission from their community.
This exhibit aims to rectify these wrongs and foster a deeper connection between Indigenous cultural artifacts and their communities, particularly among the Hodinöšyö:nih people. “We want to make our collections more open to Indigenous Peoples and reconnect them to physical and spiritual aspects, so they can have a sense of pride,” Jacobs emphasizes.
One unique aspect of this exhibit is its accessibility. Those with a tribal ID will now be able to enter the RMSC free, a recent change and initiative that aims to welcome local Indigenous community members to the museum and acknowledge their vital role in cultural preservation, as well as mending the museum’s relationship among these communities. This is part of the museum’s broader efforts to “correct past harms” and make Indigenous culture more accessible to its original custodians as the RMSC is built upon stolen Indigenous land.
The exhibit was a year in the making and was developed collaboratively with Indigenous artists and RMSC staff. This process involved careful consideration of how to present Indigenous cultural artifacts in a respectful and accurate manner by involving the Hodinöšyö:nih community. Jacobs notes, “We all brought together our own ideas; not every idea in the exhibition was mine, but we did our best to accommodate everybody that had creativity, especially the artists.”
“Continuity, Innovation, and Resilience” is at the heart of the exhibit’s theme, which showcases ongoing traditions of Hodinöšyö:nih art and craftwork. Those who would like to explore this exhibit will see intricate carvings that echo the artistry of ancestors from thousands of years ago. Although Indigenous Peoples have typically been depicted throughout the years as “peoples of the ancient past rather than contemporary people,” Hodinöšyö:nih artists today still use these traditional techniques. “Just because that was done 2,000 years ago doesn’t mean it stopped. We still have artists in the community who are continuing this work,” Jacobs says.
The exhibit not only educates curious visitors about the past, but also addresses the present and the future, as well as common misconceptions about Indigenous Peoples. By engaging with Indigenous communities and artists like the Hodinöšyö:nih, the RMSC hopes to inspire other museums to adopt similar inclusive practices, Jacobs explains. The ultimate goal is to “encourage other museums in the area, if not the country, to reach out to the Indigenous community for information,” as well as to “hire artists and pay them appropriately.”
Parents and children visiting this educational new exhibit will gain a valuable perspective on the living culture of the Hodinöšyö:nih, understanding these communities are not just relics of the past, but that they are a rather vibrant and contemporary society.
For families looking for an enriching educational experience for themselves and their kids, this exhibit at the RMSC is a must-see. It offers a rare opportunity for kids to explore the resilient legacy of the Hodinöšyö:nih people and engage their stories in a meaningful and realistic way. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, the RMSC welcomes visitors to discover, learn, and reflect on the profound contributions of Indigenous cultures to our shared history and the work they still continue to do today.
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This article originally appeared in the Winter 2025 issue of (585) Kids.
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