Long ago before the white man came to this country, the Oneida people lived near their enemies, the Mingoes.

The Mingoes attacked the Oneida villages and destroyed them. They burned buildings, destroyed corn fields, killed men, and abducted the women.

The land the Oneidas villages lay on was deserted, the fields untended, the ruins of the homes blackened. The people of Oneida were taken deep into the forest to hide. They hid in secret places among rocks, caves, and on the mountains. The Great spirit himself helped hide the people from their enemies.

Thus the Oneida people were safe in their retreats, but they were starving. Whatever food they had was eaten up. They had to either starve or go out to search for food and be discovered by their enemies. The warrior chiefs met in council but could find no other way out.

Then a young girl, named Aliquipiso, stepped forward in the council and said she was not scared to give her life for her people.

Aliquipiso told the council: "We are hiding on top of a high, sheer cliff. Above us the mountain is covered with boulders and heavy sharp rocks. You warriors wait and watch here. I will go to the Mingoes and lead them to the spot at the foot of the cliff where they all can be crushed and destroyed."

The chiefs and warriors listened to the girl with wonder. The oldest chief blessed her and said "We, your people, will always remember you."