Amelia Cornelius

Amelia Margaret (Hawk) Cornelius (January 28, 1938 – March 12, 2016) was an artist from the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, United States known for her traditional Oneida corn bread and her corn husk dolls. Her corn husk dolls and service in Oneida Tribe have been noted as having helped to preserve the Oneida culture and language. and doll making workshops. Amelia Cornelius died on March 12, 2016, at the age of 78, from lung cancer.

Career Cornelius served the Oneida Tribe as the Oneida Tribal Secretary for 16 years, the Oneida Gaming Assistant Manager for six years, the Oneida Gaming Commission for 13 years, and as the Director of the Oneida Bilingual/Bi-cultural Program for seven years. Cornelius was a project manager for building the original Anna John Nursing Home and an assistance in developing a grant for the Oneida Museum.

Education Cornelius earned a bachelor's degree in communication from UW Green Bay in June 1996.

Corn (husk), beans and squash are considered cherished crops within the Oneida and are called "Three Sisters," an agricultural triumvirate. Three Sisters in the Oneida culture helped to nourish the Oneida and the usage of three crops used within the tribe is considered medicinal, ceremonial, and artistic. Using one of Three Sisters crops makes corn husk dolls significant to Oneida.

Cornelius has been credited as pioneering the use of corn husk dolls as a way to preserve Oneida culture since the dolls were initially used only as a toy and was declining in popularity.

Legacy On October 14, 2018, a dedication was held to commemorate the naming of the Amelia Cornelius Culture Park, which was built to celebrate the survival of indigenous people. The park opened with a tobacco burning to appreciate and offer prayer for survival of indigenous culture, tradition, and language, which Cornelius, an Oneida historian, had done with her service and corn husk dolls. The park annually features Oneida historians and Indigenous events at the park. The park also has historic homes that audiences can walk through to learn about Oneida history.

A social dinner and Ohe∙láku seed exchange was held on September 25, 2019, at the park, bringing tribal communities together. People participated at the event, wearing traditional clothing and sharing traditional seeds.

The Oneida Nation's 10th annual Big Apple Fest, a free community event, in Oneida, Wisconsin, was held on September 21, 2019, at the park, featuring horse-drawn wagon rides and an apple baking contest.

Articles

"The Archiquette Genealogy" "Tribal Discord and the Road to Green Bay"

Exhibition

"The raised bead work contest submission of corn husk dolls with outfit decorated with bead work motifs" at Bear Paw Keepsakes contest, WI, during October, 2006.

Workshops

"Corn husk dolls with Amelia Cornelius" at the Art Garage in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Sep 16, 2015. "The art of making Corn husk dolls" at the 2003 University Summer Forum at UW–Madison on July 15, 2003. "Corn Husk Doll Workshop" at the Multicultural Center in Green Bay on March 10, 2015. "Mother-daughter doll-making duo" at the 32nd Annual Smithsonian Folk life Festival at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in 1998.

Honors and awards

2001 Oneida Fellowship by Dollar for Art Program 2006 The raised bead work contest winner sponsored by Bear Paw Keepsakes