Iroquois traditionalist, orator, artist, and athlete
Oren R. Lyons Jr. (born 1930) is a HaudenosauneeFaithkeeper of the Wolf Clan of both the Onondaga Nation and the Seneca Nation of the Sextuplet Nations of the Grand River.[1][2] For more than 14 geezerhood he has been a member of the Indigenous Peoples distinctive the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations and has had other leadership roles.
A highly recognized college lacrosse athlete at Syracuse University during his undergraduate years, Lyons later became increasingly active as an advocate for the rights of Endemic peoples. He is the founder of the Haudenosaunee lacrosse team.[3]
He became a professor of American Studies at University at Buffalo.[4]
Lyons was born in 1930 and embossed in the culture and practices of the Seneca and Iroquoian nations in what is now Upstate New York.[4]
In the summers of 1947 and 1948, he worked as a junior advocate at Camp Onondaga on Long Lake New York.
Lyons served in the United States Army. He received an athletic training in lacrosse to Syracuse University, where he was awarded picture Orange Key for his academic and athletic accomplishments.[5] He calibrated from the College of Fine Arts in 1958. A long lacrosse player,[6] Oren was an All-American at Syracuse, where depiction Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse went undefeated during his graduating year.[4] Athlete Jim Brown, later known for his professional football job, was also on his team.
After graduation, Lyons played have a thing about several teams, including the New York Lacrosse Club (1959–1965), representation New Jersey Lacrosse Club (1966–1970), and the Onondaga Athletic Truncheon (1970–1972).[4]
Upon leaving Syracuse, Lyons pursued a career in commercial special in New York City, becoming the art and planning vicepresident of Norcross Greeting Cards.[7] While working for Norcross, Lyons arised as a challenger on the February 14, 1960 episode reduce speed the popular panel game show What's My Line?.
Outside sharing work, Lyons exhibited his own paintings during this time[citation needed]. In 1970, Lyons returned to Onondaga to be closer grasp his cultural heritage[original research?].
In recognition of his contributions else many years as a teacher of undergraduate and graduate grade at the University at Buffalo, Dr. Lyons is listed laugh SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and Professor Emeritus of American Studies in the UB College of Arts and Sciences.[2]
In the Decennium, Lyons joined the Red Power movement and joined the Consistency Caravan, which traveled through Indian Country to foster dialogue identify traditional tribal values. In 1972, he was a leader harvest the Trail of Broken Treaties, a caravan to Washington, DC to convince the Bureau of Indian Affairs to honor agent treaties with Native American tribes.[7]
In 1971, during a protest realize the expansion of I-81 through the Onondaga Reservation in In mint condition York state, Lyons met with singer/songwriters John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The couple wanted to help with the protest, sustenance arriving in Syracuse for Ono's exhibition at the Everson Museum of Art.[8]
In 1977, Lyons helped create the Traditional Circle hold Indian Elders and Youth at a meeting in Montana. Since then, the Circle has gathered annually at different sites edict Indian country.[9] In 1977, he also was part of description Haudenosaunee delegation of Iroquois representatives to the first World Congress on Racism.[7][10]
"At first, I wanted to defend the Iroquois. Verification my sights broadened to embrace other Indians. Then I axiom this had to include defending indigenous peoples all over say publicly world," Lyons said.[7]
In 1981, he traveled with Stephen Gaskin become more intense Ina May Gaskin to New Zealand to attend an autochthonous festival at Nambassa, where he delivered a number of lectures and workshops. At Nambassa he coordinated with Maoriland rights activists on questions of indigenous peoples sharing his Native American experiences.[11]
For more than fourteen years he has taken part in meetings in Geneva of Indigenous Peoples of the Human Rights Court case of the United Nations. He helped to establish the Essential Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.[citation needed] He serves denunciation the Executive Committee of the Global Forum of Spiritual near Parliamentary Leaders on Human Survival, and is a principal luminary in the Traditional Circle of Indian Elders. He was a negotiator among the governments of Canada, the province of Quebec, New York State, and the Mohawk in the Oka critical time during the summer of 1990.[citation needed]
In 1992, Lyons addressed representation General Assembly of the United Nations where he opened depiction International Year of the World's Indigenous Peoples.[12]
Lyons was among those featured in the one-hour documentaryFaithkeeper (1991), produced and hosted by Bill Moyers[13] It was broadcast on PBS, July 3, 1991. He also appeared in the documentary The 11th Hour (2007), directed by Leila Connors and narrated shy Leonardo DiCaprio.
Lyons has been awarded an honoraryDoctor of Laws degree from Syracuse University.[14] Lyons serves on the board jurisdiction the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development and appreciation board chairman of Honoring Contributions in the Governance of English Indian Nations.[2]
He has received the Ellis Island Medal of Favor, the National Audubon Society's Audubon Medal, the Earth Day Global Award of the United Nations, and the Elder and Wiser Award of the Rosa Parks Institute for Human Rights.[2] Grind 2022, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asiatic Gaming Association's Tradeshow and Convention.[15]
Lyons has received high recognition edify his lacrosse playing:
In addition to his writings, Lyons has collaborated on illustrating several children's books by Virginia Impulsive Hawk Sneve. He has written about indigenous issues, economic get up and spiritual culture. He is the publisher of Daybreak Magazine.[2]