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Biography
Artist from Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, Amelia Cornelius, illustrates Oneida values and culture through her art work and service. Amelia Cornelius was born on January 28, 1939. She was a daughter of Arthur Hawk and Priscilla Jordan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She served the Oneida Tribe as the Oneida Tribal Secretary for 16 years, the Oneida Gaming Assistant Manger for 6 years, the Oneida Gaming Commission for 13 years, and as the Director of the Oneida Bilingual/Bi-cultural Program for 7 years. Her contributions helped to preserve the Oneida culture and language. For example, she was a project manager for building the original Anna John Nursing Home and an assistance in developing a grant for the Oneida Museum; she was an assistant gaming manager of Oneida Casino. She is famously known for her traditional Oneida corn bread and her corn husk dolls. She passed away in March 12, 2016 due to a lung cancer when she was at the age of 78.

Amelia Cornelius' corn husk dolls helps to understand traditional dress and roles of both men and women. The dolls are faceless dolls with traditional Oneida dress of men and women, portraying individual's life foal is to discover and follow along one's own humble path. She envisioned to showcase how women played significant role in Oneida culture with her dolls because she felt it's not emphasized enough. She also focused on portraying the Sachems (chiefs) of the Oneida. She researched traditional styles of Oneida clothing and accessories, bead work design, and traditional storytelling which uses metaphors and symbols. Research of hers would help her to create dolls with deep cultural meanings and to teach younger generations about Oneida culture. The dolls are much dressed like the first Amelia created: traditional outfits that shows history during the time. The doll's clothes are dyes and the pose of a doll is bent around to make it look like if it were doing an activity.

Like her grandfather had told her about his experiences in tribal affairs and history, Amelia Cornelius often shared history of the Oneidas to school children. Her grandfather inspired her to create her corn husk doll that portrays the tradition of Oneida. Cornelius learned to traditionally make white corn husk dolls from her grandmother. She often used traditional white corn because it would make the husk longer and whiter, making it easier to create the doll. White corn can only be harvested seasonally and difficult to gather. As so, Cornelius started growing her own to meet the needs.

Oneida Corn husk doll making started from Cornelius' great grandmother Amelia Wheelock Jordan followed by Cornelius' grandmother Priscilla Jordan Hawk Manders "Budgie," and to herself followed by her daughter Kim Cornelius Nishimoto. The tradition is still followed by Cornelius' grandson Adams Nishimoto. But it was Amelia Cornelius who first brought back an awareness to Oneida culture through corn husk dolls specifically in Wisconsin; Oneida Indians first moved to Wisconsin and Amelia Cornelius' effort in preserving the Oneida culture can be easily found as an article in Wisconsin. The corn husk dolls were only a toy at first and few people made the dolls as they became less popular. But due to Cornelius' contribution, corn husk dolls are now considered an art piece and they portray Onedia history, culture, and values.

Education
She received Bachelors degree of Communications from UWGreen Bay.

Artworks
1 Oneida Sachems (2009) is made up of corn husk, leather, cloth, beads, yarn, and feathers. This work includes 9 chief dolls with traditional Oneida outfits. 2 Just like Me (2012)is made up of corn husk, cloth, beads, leather, yarn, and feathers. This work includes 2 dolls which was made for a customer who wanted the dolls with the family's traditional outfits. The outfits are purple, white and black with stripes and traditional patterns. 3 Four Directions (2012) is made up of corn husk, wood, and cloth. The 4 dolls are made to be displayed at the original Anna John Nursing Home.

Sole Exhibitions
A cultural park is dedicated to Amelia Cornelius on October 14, 2019. The park is built to celebrate 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 Amelia Cornelius, an Oneida historian, had done with her service and corn husk dolls. There was a opening statement given to Cornelius followed by white pine planting practice for peace and stomp dance. Amelia Cornelius park has not became the center of Oneida culture as a historic homes to visitors who want to learn about Oneida history. The park throughout the year features Oneida ancestral historians.

Publication
Amelia Cornelius published an article entitled, "The Archiquette Genealogy," and "Tribal Discord and the Road to Green Bay." The articles state history of Oneida Indian's history in 1700s. "The Archiquette Genealogy" talks about the Marquis de-Lafayette's returning to France with his boys, who recruited Oneida soldiers during the 1784 Treaty of For Stanwix. "Tribal Discord and the Road to Green Bay" illustrates a story of Oneida Indian's existence who was marred by conflict between religious and political parties in 1790s.

Collections
There is a permanent display of Cornelius' work at Marriott Residence Inns in Sacramento, CA. Work of her daughter Kim, who creates mother-daughter dolls, is also exhibited with Cornelius at the 32nd Annual Smithsonia Folklife Destival held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in 1998.