Oneida Hymn Singers
About
We dedicate our prayer-songs to the honor and glory our our creator God. We offer these prayer-songs in the tradition in which we learned them. From our hearts to yours, may you be guided buy His everlasting love and abide in his eternal home. We pray that you are comforted, strengthened, and blessed as we sing our praises to our creator God.
When we came to Wisconsin from New York in 1822, we brought these Christian hymns with us. Very Likely, we have been singing our Oneida hymns as early as the mid-1600s when we first heard early missionaries singing them. Singing these Oneida prayer-songs are one of the longest standing cultural traditions that have never ceased to exist since we began singing them.
Our hymns are traditional to the Oneida communities. Our songs were preserved orally and later in hand copied books originally in the Mohawk alphabet. They have been passed on from generation to generation, a capella style.
We are a volunteer group, however we do accept donations. We sing for wakes, funerals, church services, celebrations and community events.
Much of the content of the words in our songs tell us stories of life after death with our Creator. They describe how Jesus loves us, protects us, strengthens us and cares for us. In many songs, the message of having no more bad feelings, no more pain, and no more tears in common. Our songs remind us that we will be singing, smiling, and being reunited with our loved ones who have gone home ahead of us.
Regular Singing Times
We sing at the Anna John Nursing Home the second Thursday of every month from 10 AM – 11 AM
Oneida Hymn singing practice is held at the Oneida VFW the last Sunday of every month from 2 PM – 4 PM
Contact Information
For more information, please contact:
Emily Johnson: (920) 869-2325
Norma Primeau: normaj.np@gmail.com
Oneida Hymn Singers Family Pod Program
The Oneida Hymn Singers are looking for families and groups to form “pods” and learn traditional hymns together.
- Practice at least once per month (more often encouraged)
- Learn using digitized hymns, recordings, and provided hymn books
- Meet in your home or community space
- Prepare one song to share
All pods will gather in January 2027 at the Oneida Hotel for a group presentation.
Interested in joining? Submit the form below to sign up for the Family Pod Program.
Family Pod Oneida Hymn Singing Program – Printable Form
Family Pod Oneida Hymn Singing Program – Fillable Form
For more information, please contact:
Emily Johnson: (920) 869-2325
Norma Primeau: normaj.np@gmail.com
Song Archive
Our Oneida hymns continue to be shared and remembered through a song archive being prepared for our community. This archive will hold recordings and written hymns that help preserve the prayer-songs passed down to us from our ancestors. They are shared so our people, especially future generations, may listen, learn, and remain connected to this long-standing tradition.
The song archive will be available soon. As hymns and other materials are carefully gathered and added, this space will continue to grow over time. It is offered as a way for community members to engage with our hymns for learning, reflection, and prayer. In this way, the voices of those who sang before us continue to guide and strengthen us as we honor our Creator together.
Oneida Hymn Singers – Oneida, Wisconsin 1998
1. Going Home
2. Long, Long Ago
3. Funeral Song
4. Blessed Be The Tie That Binds
5. Special Communion Hymn
6. Amazing Grace
7. Te Deum Laudamus
8. Oxaya Nel
9. The Cross That He Gives
10. It’s Going To Open
11. Jatgato
12. La Du He
13. It Is Well With My Soul
14. Great Blessing
15. In The Hour of Trial
16. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
17. Sinners Jesus Will Receive
18. Rock of Ages
19. Take Me As I Am
20. My Savior First of All
Jesus Loves Me: A Collection of Oneida Hymns
1. Oh How I Love Jesus
2. To the Rock Higher Than I
3. Angry Words O Let Them Never
4. Some Sweet Day
5. Jesus Loves Me
6. Music In My Heart
7. Joshua
8. I Surrender All
9. We Shall Stand Before The Lord
10. Beautiful Beyond
11. Wa gu lih wa ne g^ ni i
12. The Cross He Gives Us
13. Just As I Am
14. Abiding
15. God Will Take Care Of You
16. Doxology
