
The Heraldry of the Oneida Indian Nation Police patch is taken from the Iroquois legend of the Tree of Peace.
The Oneida Indian Nation Police patch was designed when the department was formed in 1993. In Iroquois legend, the Great Peacemaker was sent by the Creator to bring the message of peace to the fierce nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. The Peacemaker traveled to every Iroquois Nation. When he came to the last, he planted a white pine to symbolize the peace he had established. Then, he uprooted it, throwing the weapons of war under its roots. With this, the fighting among nations stopped, and the Iroquois began to work together with each other in peace and unity.
The Oneida Nation's white pine symbolizes the desire to maintain peace with all neighbors. Atop the tree an eagle looks out for enemies of the Great Peace, while the wampum belt represents the six Iroquois Nations. The three clans of the Oneida are Turtle, Wolf, and Bear.
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