SUNY Oswego’s Triandiflou Institute to host Haudenosaunee Art Installation Ceremony
The James A. Triandiflou ’88 Institute for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Transformative Practice will host a Haudenosaunee Art Installation Ceremony featuring Karen Veeraswamy, a SUNY Oswego computer science student and a Haudenosaunee artist, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Tyler Art Gallery.
The ceremony celebrates Native American History Month, artistic expression and cultural resilience.
The installation will honor the Indigenous peoples whose ancestral lands SUNY Oswego occupies while recognizing the cultural significance, artistic traditions and resilience of the Haudenosaunee people. The event will also explore the historical shift in the United States from viewing Indigenous creative practices primarily as crafts to recognizing Native American creators as artists.
Veeraswamy is a member of the Seneca Nation of the Allegany Territory in Western New York. Her artwork incorporates traditional raised beadwork techniques and natural raw materials she makes or gathers. Drawing inspiration from her culture and the natural environment, her designs reflect ancestral knowledge, cultural identity, and Indigenous representation.
Veeraswamy learned her art from her maternal grandmother, continuing a tradition passed down through generations. For her, creating traditional art is a meditative practice grounded in a good mind, positive spirit, and remembrance of her ancestors. Each piece reflects a commitment to preserving Haudenosaunee artistic traditions while sharing their cultural significance with broader audiences.
Most of Veeraswamy’s artwork is held in private collections, and her work has been exhibited internationally. Her most recent exhibition took place in June 2026 at the Burchfield Nature and Art Center in Western New York.
The ceremony gives the SUNY Oswego community an opportunity to engage with Indigenous artistic traditions, learn about the history and cultural significance of Haudenosaunee art, and honor the people whose histories and connections to the land long predate the university.
Light refreshments will be provided. If you need accommodations, please email [email protected].
— Submitted by the James A. Triandiflou ’88 Institute for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Transformative Practice