new york fragments

Welcome to new york fragments, an evolving set of research fragments by Debra Vidali (Anthropology, Emory University). You’ll find short reflections, interpretations, and annotations here along a discovery path connected to Rochester NY, Irondequoit Bay, the Genesee River, Lake Ontario, the Southern Tier, and other Haudenosaunee lands and waterways, in an area that is also now known as central and western New York State. These regions are the enduring homelands of Onöndowa’ga:’ (People of the Great Hill), also called Seneca, the Keeper of the Western Door of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

I was born and raised in this area, with family roots going back to 1639 Dutch settlers in the Hudson Valley. I write as a social scientist, traveler, learner, educator daughter, wife, mother, friend, and anthropologist, with hopes of honoring, building, exploring, and repairing relations from my side of the Two Row agreement. Please check back as this site is continually evolving. Feedback is most welcome!