Six Nations Indian Museum

Looking for something different and amazing? Just a short drive through the picturesque Adirondacks and nestled in the small town of Onchiota is the Six Nations Indian Museum. In just over an hour’s drive you can be sitting in one of the oldest and most informative museums of the Six Nations. For 59 years the Fadden family, including patriarch Ray Fadden, has been host to people from all over the world; Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Italy, Guatemala, Spain and more. People have travelled from afar to hear and see history come alive through their varied and entirely authentic displays. From pictographs to traditional clothing, pottery which dates back 700 years, canoes, beadwork, and contemporary paintings, three generations of Faddens have made this museum a place to experience.

What makes this all come alive is the passion shared by the Fadden Family. Grandfather Ray Fadden created the museum and his grandsons carry on the tradition of oral history; they share a wealth of information of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Just as extraordinary as the number of items on display in one compact building are the hosts – The Fadden Family. From Ray, who has since passed away, to his son, John and John’s wife, Eva, to their sons, Dave and Donnie and Dan. Those who can remember Ray telling a story can still hear the echo of his voice in his son John and his grandson Dave. All things come alive while you are transported back to a time of pre-contact, to the arrival of non-natives and finally to the contemporary history of the Haudenosaunee. Founder Ray Fadden wanted the world to know the true history of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and for years he told our story to those who stopped in. His passion for telling the true story was passed to his son John who stepped in as Ray “retired” and soon John and his wife Eva could be heard sharing their knowledge of history, legends and stories. Before long their sons Dave and Donnie stepped in to take their turn running the museum and sharing their wealth of knowledge. Everything is housed in the same building that Ray Fadden built. Everywhere you look you can find paintings, pictographs, and carvings done by the Fadden Family, they all add depth and character not found in many museums.

Dave brings his experience of working with Sue Ellen Herne of the Akwesasne Museum and the Native North American Travelling College. He, along with his family are very concerned about preserving their collection. With the passing of time and changes in weather some of the items in the museum have become targets to the extreme heat in the summer and have had to be removed temporarily until they can install humidity controlled air systems to help preserve the hundreds of years old items on display.

The Museum is a completely non-profit museum; in fact Dave and his brother Donnie volunteer their time at the museum every summer. They are also working with The Wild Center of Tupper Lake to curate a display of the Six Nations, which should be ready for viewing by the spring of 2014. The Six Nations Museum is open from the end of June to Labor Day Weekend. Schools are most welcome to the museum after Labor Day by appointment until the end of September. You can find the Six Nations Museum on Facebook and online. You can just stop in, or for something more formal you can call and make an appointment (although none are necessary) at 518 891 2299.