The Oneida Nation of the Thames is located in southwestern Ontario on what is commonly referred to as the "Oneida Settlement", near London, Ontario. The Oneida Nation of the Thames was purchased by a small group of Christian Oneida who relocated there from New York State in the 1840s. The Settlement is part of the traditional hunting area known as the Beaver Hunting Grounds, which was recognized in the 1701 Nanfan Treaty. Since the early days of the settlement, over half of the population has practiced either the Methodist or Anglican religion.

The Oneida Settlement is different from a “reserve” or “reservation” in that the lands were purchased by the Oneida and not “reserved” for them by the Canadian government.  Despite this distinction, the Canadian government treats the Settlement as a reserve. One of the primary reasons that the Oneida do not protest this status vehemently is the fear that if the governement agrees that the land is privately owned, they would then be required to pay taxes. Under the status of a reserve they are exempt from taxation. The community holds elections for self-government under the Indian Act and also has a hereditary government structure in place.

The community contains three sub-divisions, a community center, and three parks. The Oneida Settlement has a traditional long house and government, of which there are two factions, one is generally called the River Road Longhouse which follows the Code of Handsome Lake, and the other is called the Elijah Road Longhouse and only follows the Great law, and does not recognize the Handsome Lake teachings . There are several craft shops, variety stores, gas bars, and a great number of smoke shops. The Settlement has two elementary schools, a  health clinic, a radio station, an administration building, golden ages rest home, a volunteer fire hall/ambulance station, water treatment facility, sewage treatment facilities, public works building, community centre, police station and a training centre.