Wayne Co. 250 Keynote Speaker - Dr. Michael Oberg

This intense discussion will focus on the often overlooked aspects of the Declaration of Independence regarding the exclusion of Indigenous people and the systematic dispossession of Indigenous land, including the Phelps-Gorham purchase and military tract in Wayne County. Introductions and local commentary begin at 6:30pm, with Dr. Oberg speaking from 7pm-8pm including Q&A. Reception and Booking signing to follow.

BIO: Dr. Oberg is a Distinguished Professor of History at SUNY-Geneseo since 1998 and founder of the Geneseo Center for Local and Municipal History.  He teaches courses in Native American History, American Indian Law and Public Policy, and the history of the Iroquois. He is the author of the comprehensive college textbook, Native America, A History now in its 3rd edition. He lives in Rochester, New York.

He also has authored numerous books and articles, including Peacemakers: The Iroquois, the United States, and the Treaty of Canandaigua, 1794 (2015, Critical Historical Encounters Series) which offers a glimpse into how native peoples participated in the intercultural diplomacy of the New Nation, how they worked to protect their communities, and how they negotiated for "free use and enjoyment" of their lands.

His most recent book is scheduled for release on September 29, 2026, The Central Fire: The Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of the Onondaga Nation.  His latest book not only sheds light on the resilience of a vibrant and influential culture but examines the intricate diplomatic politics that shaped the relationship between the Onondaga―and the entire Haudenosaunee Confederacy―and the emerging American states, and how the legacy of these early encounters continues to resonate in the twenty-first century.

Funds for these Wayne Co 250 events are provided by NYS 250 Commission and the NYS Dept of Education.