A home away from home – that’s what a new facility in New York means to the Oneida Nation. 

“There’s just no way to find the words to completely describe so much in this building, and what it means to be here," said Ray Halbritter, CEO of Turning Stone Enterprises.

The Mary C. Winder Community Center is now open. The Oneida Indian Nation facility is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. 

“To create a place where we can gather together, where we can fulfill Mary's and our ancestors dream and make a permanent home for our community," he said. 

Named after Native American activist Mary C. Winder, the 90,000-square-foot community center has a gym, pool, a field house that will host box lacrosse games and other amenities like a gallery and library. 

“It fulfills the promise that we want for our future generations to have a place where the community can gather and build our community," Halbritter said. "So this center is going to be, you know, just an amazing facility to help create community bonding and get greetings and memories. And we're just so excited, and we're beyond excited.”

Halbritter on Friday reflected on the hardships Native Americans faced to keep their land. The center signifies they’re still thriving. He says one of the biggest attractions is the field house, which he hopes will attract people from across the state. 

“We are going to be hosting the international box lacrosse championships games here in the fall," he said. "So this is a way that the entire state and the area can enjoy what we've built here, something for everybody."

Especially for future generations to come. 

“We created this center as a gift to those future generations," Halbritter said. "That the true gift is not just this building or its facilities. The gift is what can be found inside, the joy of community."