This past Thursday the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s New York Cultural Transformation Day took place at the Iroquois Confederacy’s Six Nation Agricultural Society Indian Village at the New York State Fair Grounds. Things got started early as more than a dozen USDA Rural Development staff members joined with representatives from the Iroquois Confederacy Nation to build, discover and practice community relations and also to beautify the landscape.
USDA staff volunteers carried out their Cultural Transformation outreach initiative, they toured the grounds and also received a historical lecture on the history and traditions of the Iroquois culture and practices. The team also participated in painting, planting flowers, and raking the village grounds.
The Village is designed to demonstrate the contribution of the Iroquois farmers and homemakers to the people of the state in days gone by as well as to portray present-day progress in farming and home-making among the 12,000 Indians living on the seven New York reservations. The Village was constructed and is operated by the Six Nations Agricultural Society in cooperation with the State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of State Fair, State Department of Education and Social Welfare and Conservation.
“USDA embraces Cultural Transformation in all of its forms – each day we encourage and promote a workplace culture where personal and cultural backgrounds are recognized and utilized to enhance the effectiveness of our workplace. Today’s activities promoted teamwork among our staff and with those members of the Iroquois Nation. I believe we all will walk away with a greater understanding and appreciation of the Iroquois Nation, its people and its proud heritage,” Bryan Clerkin (Acting New York State Director / Administrative Officer) said.