Haudenosaunee Great Law Of Peace

Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace: A Legacy of Peace, Justice, and Sustainability

Introduction:

For centuries, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy has stood as a testament to the power of diplomacy, environmental stewardship, and social harmony. At the heart of their enduring success lies the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace, a remarkably sophisticated political and legal system that has influenced Indigenous governance and inspired modern movements for social justice and environmental protection. This comprehensive guide delves into the intricacies of this ancient legal framework, exploring its origins, core principles, contemporary relevance, and lasting impact. We'll uncover the wisdom embedded within its provisions, highlighting its lessons for building peaceful and sustainable societies today. Prepare to journey into a rich history and learn from a legacy of peacemaking that continues to resonate globally.


I. Origins and Development of the Great Law of Peace:

The Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace wasn't created overnight. It emerged from a long period of conflict and reconciliation amongst the five (later six) nations: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora. Legend tells of the Peacemaker, a powerful spiritual leader, who united these warring nations through diplomacy and a shared vision of peace. This wasn't a simple task; centuries of intertribal conflict required a profound shift in perspectives and a commitment to collective well-being. The Great Law, formalized through oral tradition and later documented, became the constitution of this remarkable confederacy, outlining the structure of governance, resolving disputes, and establishing a framework for peaceful coexistence.

II. Core Principles of the Great Law of Peace:

The Great Law isn't simply a set of laws; it's a philosophy of life deeply rooted in respect for nature, communal harmony, and the pursuit of justice. Key principles include:

Peace and Harmony: The fundamental goal is the maintenance of peace among the nations and within each community. Disputes are resolved through diplomacy and negotiation, prioritizing consensus-building over coercion.
Balance and Reciprocity: The Great Law emphasizes a balance between individual rights and collective responsibilities. Reciprocity, or mutual respect and exchange, forms the basis of social and economic relations.
Environmental Stewardship: The Haudenosaunee understood the profound connection between humanity and the natural world. The Great Law emphasizes responsible use of resources and respect for the environment, ensuring its sustainability for future generations.
Gender Equality: Unlike many societies of the time (and even today), the Great Law granted significant power and influence to women. Clan Mothers held key roles in selecting chiefs and ensuring the balance of power within the Confederacy.
Collective Decision-Making: Decisions were (and largely still are) made through consensus, with each nation having an equal voice in the process. This ensured inclusivity and prevented the dominance of any single group.


III. Structure and Governance of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy:

The Confederacy operates on a unique system of governance, reflecting the principles enshrined in the Great Law. Key elements include:

The Council of Chiefs: Each nation elects chiefs who represent their interests in the Confederacy council. These chiefs are responsible for making decisions on behalf of their people.
The Clan Mothers: Women hold significant power as Clan Mothers, responsible for selecting and removing chiefs, ensuring the stability and balance of the leadership.
The Faith Keepers: Spiritual leaders play a critical role in guiding the Confederacy, ensuring the integrity of the Great Law and its connection to the spiritual world.
The Longhouse: The Longhouse represents the physical and spiritual heart of the Confederacy, a place where decisions are made and traditions are upheld.


IV. The Great Law of Peace in the Modern World:

Despite centuries of colonization and oppression, the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace continues to inspire movements for social justice and environmental protection worldwide. Its principles resonate with contemporary concerns about sustainable development, conflict resolution, and the role of Indigenous knowledge in addressing global challenges. Many organizations and individuals are studying and applying its lessons to create more just and peaceful societies.

V. The Enduring Legacy:

The Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace is more than a historical document; it's a living testament to the power of collective action, diplomacy, and respect for both humanity and the environment. Its enduring legacy is a powerful reminder that peaceful and sustainable societies are possible, even in the face of significant challenges. By understanding and learning from this ancient wisdom, we can strive to create a better future for all.


Book Outline: "Understanding the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace"

Introduction: Overview of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the significance of the Great Law.
Chapter 1: Origins and Development: The historical context, the role of the Peacemaker, and the process of unification.
Chapter 2: Core Principles: Detailed explanation of the key principles: peace, balance, reciprocity, environmental stewardship, gender equality, and collective decision-making.
Chapter 3: Structure and Governance: In-depth analysis of the Confederacy's political structure, the roles of Chiefs, Clan Mothers, and Faith Keepers.
Chapter 4: Contemporary Relevance: Exploring the Great Law's application in modern contexts, including environmental justice, conflict resolution, and Indigenous rights.
Chapter 5: Enduring Legacy and Future Implications: Discussion of the Great Law's continued influence and its potential to inspire future generations.
Conclusion: Synthesis of key takeaways and reflection on the significance of the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace.


(Note: The following sections would be expanded upon in the full book chapters.)

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FAQs:

1. What is the difference between the Iroquois Confederacy and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy? The terms are often used interchangeably, but Haudenosaunee is the preferred term used by the people themselves, reflecting their self-identification.

2. How is the Great Law enforced? Enforcement relies heavily on consensus and social pressure, rather than formal punishments. The emphasis is on restoring harmony, not retribution.

3. What role do women play in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy? Women, as Clan Mothers, hold significant political power, including the ability to appoint and remove chiefs.

4. How does the Great Law address environmental issues? The Great Law emphasizes a deep respect for nature and sustainable resource management, recognizing the interconnectedness of all living things.

5. Is the Great Law still practiced today? Yes, the principles of the Great Law continue to guide Haudenosaunee governance and decision-making.

6. How has the Great Law influenced other societies? Its principles have inspired movements for peace, justice, and environmental sustainability around the world.

7. What are some of the challenges faced by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy today? The Haudenosaunee face ongoing challenges related to land rights, self-governance, and the impact of colonization.

8. Where can I learn more about the Great Law? Numerous resources are available, including books, academic articles, and websites dedicated to Haudenosaunee history and culture.

9. Are there any modern interpretations or applications of the Great Law? Yes, many scholars and activists are exploring how the principles of the Great Law can be applied to contemporary issues of social and environmental justice.


Related Articles:

1. The Role of Women in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy: Examining the political power and influence of Clan Mothers.

2. Environmental Stewardship in the Great Law of Peace: Exploring the Haudenosaunee's deep connection to the natural world.

3. Conflict Resolution in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy: Analyzing the methods used to resolve disputes and maintain peace.

4. The Peacemaker's Legacy: Unifying the Haudenosaunee Nations: Exploring the legendary figure who brought peace to the warring tribes.

5. The Haudenosaunee Great Law and Modern Governance: Comparing the principles of the Great Law with contemporary political systems.

6. Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Development: Lessons from the Haudenosaunee: Highlighting the relevance of Indigenous wisdom for addressing global challenges.

7. The Haudenosaunee and the Challenges of Colonization: Exploring the historical context and ongoing impacts of colonization.

8. The Oral Tradition and the Preservation of the Great Law: Examining the importance of oral history in preserving the Great Law.

9. Contemporary Haudenosaunee Activism and the Great Law: Showcasing how the Great Law continues to inspire activism and social change.


  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Kayanerenkó:wa Kayanesenh Paul Williams, 2018-10-26 Several centuries ago, the five nations that would become the Haudenosaunee—Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca—were locked in generations-long cycles of bloodshed. When they established Kayanerenkó:wa, the Great Law of Peace, they not only resolved intractable conflicts, but also shaped a system of law and government that would maintain peace for generations to come. This law remains in place today in Haudenosaunee communities: an Indigenous legal system, distinctive, complex, and principled. It is not only a survivor, but a viable alternative to Euro-American systems of law. With its emphasis on lasting relationships, respect for the natural world, building consensus, and on making and maintaining peace, it stands in contrast to legal systems based on property, resource exploitation, and majority rule. Although Kayanerenkó:wa has been studied by anthropologists, linguists, and historians, it has not been the subject of legal scholarship. There are few texts to which judges, lawyers, researchers, or academics may refer for any understanding of specific Indigenous legal systems. Following the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and a growing emphasis on reconciliation, Indigenous legal systems are increasingly relevant to the evolution of law and society. In Kayanerenkó:wa: The Great Law of Peace Kayanesenh Paul Williams, counsel to Indigenous nations for forty years, with a law practice based in the Grand River Territory of the Six Nations, brings the sum of his experience and expertise to this analysis of Kayanerenkó:wa as a living, principled legal system. In doing so, he puts a powerful tool in the hands of Indigenous and settler communities.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Hiawatha and the Peacemaker Robbie Robertson, 2015-09-08 Born of Mohawk and Cayuga descent, musical icon Robbie Robertson learned the story of Hiawatha and his spiritual guide, the Peacemaker, as part of the Iroquois oral tradition. Now he shares the same gift of storytelling with a new generation. Hiawatha was a strong and articulate Mohawk who was chosen to translate the Peacemaker’s message of unity for the five warring Iroquois nations during the 14th century. This message not only succeeded in uniting the tribes but also forever changed how the Iroquois governed themselves—a blueprint for democracy that would later inspire the authors of the U.S. Constitution. Caldecott Honor–winning illustrator David Shannon brings the journey of Hiawatha and the Peacemaker to life with arresting oil paintings. Together, the team of Robertson and Shannon has crafted a new children’s classic that will both educate and inspire readers of all ages. Includes a CD featuring an original song written and performed by Robbie Robertson.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: The Constitution of the Five Nations Arthur Caswell Parker, 1916
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: The Clay We Are Made Of Susan M. Hill, 2017-04-28 If one seeks to understand Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) history, one must consider the history of Haudenosaunee land. For countless generations prior to European contact, land and territory informed Haudenosaunee thought and philosophy, and was a primary determinant of Haudenosaunee identity. In The Clay We Are Made Of, Susan M. Hill presents a revolutionary retelling of the history of the Grand River Haudenosaunee from their Creation Story through European contact to contemporary land claims negotiations. She incorporates Indigenous theory, fourth world post-colonialism, and Amerindian autohistory, along with Haudenosaunee languages, oral records, and wampum strings to provide the most comprehensive account of the Haudenosaunee’s relationship to their land. Hill outlines the basic principles and historical knowledge contained within four key epics passed down through Haudenosaunee cultural history. She highlights the political role of women in land negotiations and dispels their misrepresentation in the scholarly canon. She guides the reader through treaty relationships with Dutch, French, and British settler nations, including the Kaswentha/Two-Row Wampum (the precursor to all future Haudenosaunee-European treaties), the Covenant Chain, the Nanfan Treaty, and the Haldimand Proclamation, and concludes with a discussion of the current problematic relationships between the Grand River Haudenosaunee, the Crown, and the Canadian government.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Basic Call to Consciousness Akwesasne Notes , 2021-12-24 Representatives of the Six Nation Iroquois delivered three position papers titled “The Haudenosaunee Address to the Western World” at a conference on “Discrimination Against the Indigenous Populations of the Americas” held in Geneva, Switzerland in 1977 hosted by Non-Governmental Organizations at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland in 1977. This document is presented in its entirety. Contributions by John Mohawk, Chief Oren Lyons, and Jose Barreiro give added depth and continuity to this important work.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: The Iroquois Constitution Anonymous, 2019-12-07 Among the Haudenosaunee (the Six Nations, comprising the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora peoples) the Great Law of Peace is the oral constitution of the Iroquois Confederacy. The law was written on wampum belts, conceived by Dekanawidah, known as the Great Peacemaker, and his spokesman Hiawatha. The original five member nations ratified this constitution near modern-day Victor, New York, with the sixth nation (the Tuscarora) being added in 1722. The laws were first recorded and transmitted not in written language, but by means of wampum symbols that conveyed meaning. In a later era it was translated into English and various other accounts exist. The Great Law of Peace is presented as part of a narrative noting laws and ceremonies to be performed at prescribed times. The laws called a constitution are divided into 117 articles. The united Iroquois nations are symbolized by an eastern white pine tree, called the Tree of Peace. Each nation or tribe plays a delineated role in the conduct of government. Attempts to date the founding of the Iroquois Confederacy have focused on a reported solar eclipse, which many scholars identify as the one that occurred in 1451 AD, though some debate exists with support for 1190.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: The White Roots of Peace Paul A. W. Wallace, 1968
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: The Rotinonshonni Brian Rice, 2013 In this book, Rice offers a comprehensive history based on the oral traditions of the Rotinonshonni Longhouse People, also known as the Iroquois. Drawing upon J.N.B. Hewitt's translation and the oral presentations of Cayuga Elder Jacob Thomas, Rice records the Iroquois creation story, the origin of Iroquois clans, the Great Law of Peace, the European invasion, and the life of Handsome Lake. As a participant in a 700-mile walk following the story of the Peacemaker who confederated the original five warring nations that became the Rotinonshonni, Rice traces the historic sites located in what are now known as the Mississippi River Valley, Upstate New York, southern Quebec, and Ontario. The Rotinonshonni creates from oral traditions a history that informs the reader about events that happened in the past and how those events have shaped and are still shaping Rotinonshonni society today.--Publisher's website.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Thanksgiving Address John Stokes, David Benedict, 1996-11
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Forgotten Founders Bruce Elliott Johansen, 1982 How Native Americans contributed to the early American Republic and its Constitution.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Circle Works Fyre Jean Graveline, 1998 Inspiring educators, philosophers, activists, shamans, artists, and visionaries to take up the challenge of bringing alternative teaching possibilities and strategies to the educational experience, this book creatively combines Aboriginal teachings with feminist and antiracist theory and practice.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: And Grandma Said--Iroquois Teachings Tom Porter, 2008 The Iroquois culture and traditional Longhouse spirituality has a universal appeal, a ring of truth to it that resonates not only with other indigenous people, but also with non-Native people searching for their own spiritual roots. Raised in the home of a grandmother who spoke only Mohawk, Sakokweniónkwas (Tom Porter) was asked from a young age, to translate for his elders. After such intensive exposure to his grandparents' generation, he is able to recall in vivid detail, the stories and ceremonies of a culture hovering on the brink of extinction. After devoting most of his adult life to revitalizing the culture and language of his people, Tom finally records here, the teachings of a generation of elders who have been gone for more than twenty years. Beginning with an introduction about why he is only now beginning to write all this down, he works his way chronologically through the major events embedded in Iroquois oral history and ceremony, from the story of creation, to the beginnings of the clan system, to the four most sacred rituals, to the beginnings of democracy, brought to his people by the prophet and statesman his people refer to as the Peacemaker. Interspersed with these teachings, Tom tells us in sometimes hilarious, sometimes tragic detail, the effect of colonization on his commitment to those teachings. Like a braid, the book weaves back and forth between these major teachings, and briefer teachings on topics such as pregnancy, child-rearing and Indian tobacco, weaving the political with the spiritual. Through his recollections of Grandma, and what she said, we also get an inside view of the life of a Mohawk man, and his struggles. Sometimes articulate and at other times inventive with his second language of English, Tom takes us on the journey with him, asking us to trade eyes, by erasing the blackboard to see if we can understand what a Mohawk sees, feels, is happy about and is sad about. Chapter sections and headings include: The Opening Address, Colonialism, Creation Story, Language in 3D, The Clan System, Trading Eyes, Funerals and Contradictions, A Language Dilemma, The Fog, Where We've Settled, The Four Sacred Rituals, Atenaha: the Seed Game, The Four Sacred Beings, Three Souls or Spirits and Ohkí:we, Weddings, Pregnancies, A Spiritual Ladder, Child Rearing Methods, The Great Law of Peace, Some Notes on Tobacco and Other Medicine, The Leadership, Casinos, Prayer?, The Future and The Closing Address. There is also an appendix of interviews with Tom's children, entitled: What Grandma's Great-Grandchildren Learned. Written as it is, by someone raised predominantly by a grandmother, it contains teachings which might otherwise be lost. The Iroquois culture and traditional Longhouse spirituality (of which Mohawk is one of five - and more recently six - nations) has a universal appeal, a ring of truth to it that resonates not only with other indigenous people, but also with non-Native people searching for their own spiritual roots. Due to the suppression of indigenous spirituality and culture, not only in Iroquois country, but across North America, many are searching to recover the remnants of what has been lost. This book makes a significant contribution to doing that, having been written by one of the original leaders of the revitalization movement. During the 1960s and 1970s this Mohawk Bear Clan Elder traveled extensively across North America with a group called the White Roots of Peace, a group which has been credited as the original stimulus for the growing trend to return to traditional ways on this continent.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: We Share Our Matters Rick Monture, 2014-11-28 The Haudenosaunee, more commonly known as the Iroquois or Six Nations, have been one of the most widely written-about Indigenous groups in the United States and Canada. But seldom have the voices emerging from this community been drawn on in order to understand its enduring intellectual traditions. Rick Monture’s We Share Our Matters offers the first comprehensive portrait of how the Haudenosaunee of the Grand River region have expressed their long struggle for sovereignty in Canada. Drawing from individualsas diverse as Joseph Brant, Pauline Johnson and Robbie Robertson, Monture illuminates a unique Haudenosaunee world view comprised of three distinct features: a spiritual belief about their role and responsibility to the earth; a firm understanding of their sovereign status as a confederacy of independant nations; and their responsibility to maintain those relations for future generations. After more than two centuries of political struggle Haudenosaunee thought has avoided stagnant conservatism and continues to inspire ways to address current social and political realities.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: The Iroquois Constitution Lesli J. Favor, 2003 A discussion of the constitution of the Iroquois Confederacy and the influence of this constitution and its values on the political ideas of the United States.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Conflict in Caledonia Laura DeVries, 2011-11-07 On 28 February 2006, the Six Nations of the Grand River blocked workers from entering a half-built housing development in southern Ontario. They renamed the land Kanonhstaton, “the protected place.” The protest drew national and international attention to the issue of Aboriginal land rights and sparked a series of ongoing events known as the “Caledonia Crisis.” Laura DeVries’ powerful account of the dispute links the actions of police, governmental officials, and locals to entrenched non-Aboriginal discourses about law, landscape, and identity. It encourages non-Aboriginal Canadians to reconsider their assumptions – to view “facts” such as the rule of law as culturally specific notions that prevent truly equitable dialogue. DeVries not only reveals the conflicting visions of justice held by various parties to the dispute, she also seeks out possible solutions in alternative conceptualizations of sovereignty over land and law embedded in the Constitution.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Concerning the League John Arthur Gibson, Reginald Henry, Harry Webster, Alexander Goldenweiser, 1992
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Wasáse Taiaiake Alfred, 2005-08-01 The word Wasáse is the Kanienkeha (Mohawk) word for the ancient war dance ceremony of unity, strength, and commitment to action. The author notes, This book traces the journey of those Indigenous people who have found a way to transcend the colonial identities which are the legacy of our history and live as Onkwehonwe, original people. It is dialogue and reflection on the process of transcending colonialism in a personal and collective sense: making meaningful change in our lives and transforming society by recreating our personalities, regenerating our cultures, and surging against forces that keep us bound to our colonial past.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Mohawk Interruptus Audra Simpson, 2014-05-27 Mohawk Interruptus is a bold challenge to dominant thinking in the fields of Native studies and anthropology. Combining political theory with ethnographic research among the Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke, a reserve community in what is now southwestern Quebec, Audra Simpson examines their struggles to articulate and maintain political sovereignty through centuries of settler colonialism. The Kahnawà:ke Mohawks are part of the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy. Like many Iroquois peoples, they insist on the integrity of Haudenosaunee governance and refuse American or Canadian citizenship. Audra Simpson thinks through this politics of refusal, which stands in stark contrast to the politics of cultural recognition. Tracing the implications of refusal, Simpson argues that one sovereign political order can exist nested within a sovereign state, albeit with enormous tension around issues of jurisdiction and legitimacy. Finally, Simpson critiques anthropologists and political scientists, whom, she argues, have too readily accepted the assumption that the colonial project is complete. Belying that notion, Mohawk Interruptus calls for and demonstrates more robust and evenhanded forms of inquiry into indigenous politics in the teeth of settler governance.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Wampum Belts of the Iroquois Tehanetorens, 1999 Describes the nature and significance of Indian wampum belts, focusing on their history and uses by the Iroquois.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: The Three Sisters Marcia Eames-Sheavly, 1993
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: A Clan Mother's Call Jeanette Rodriguez, 2017-08-16 Addresses the importance of Haudenosaunee women in the rebuilding of the Iroquois nation. Indigenous communities around the world are gathering to both reclaim and share their ancestral wisdom. Aware of and drawing from these social movements, A Clan Mother’s Call articulates Haudenosaunee women’s worldview that honors women, clanship, and the earth. Over successive generations, First Nation people around the globe have experienced and survived trauma and colonization. Extensive literature documents these assaults, but few record their resilience. This book fulfills an urgent and unmet need for First Nation women to share their historical and cultural memory as a people. It is a need invoked and proclaimed by Clan Mother, Iakoiane Wakerahkats:teh, of the Mohawk Nation. Utilizing ethnographic methods of participatory observation, interviewing and recording oral history, the book is an important and useful resource for capturing “living” histories. It strengthens the cultural bridge and understanding of the Haudenosaunee people within the United States and Canada.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Treaty of Canandaigua 1794 Irving Powless, 2000 200 years of treaty relations between the Iroquois Confederacy and the United States.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: The Geography and Map Division Library of Congress. Geography and Map Division, 1975
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: The Iroquois Mary Englar, 2003 Looks at the customs, family life, history, government, culture, and daily life of the Iroquois nations of New York and Ontario.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Skunny Wundy Arthur C. Parker, 1995-01-01 Collected here are the timeless Native American fables and legends handed down by noted Seneca anthropologist Arthur C. Parker. Growing up on the Cattaraugus Indian reservation in western New York, Parker knew the importance of the storyteller in Iroquois lives. The Seneca stories of animals, whose weaknesses and strengths are suspiciously like those of human beings, held a special place for Parker, who is considered by many as one of the greatest orators in any language. Oral traditions—whether myths, legends, or folktales—are more than just “stories.” They are the way by which a society communicates to its members the order and meaning to be found in the world around them. Young adults and children, especially, will be captivated by these Seneca tales.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Sacred Instructions Sherri Mitchell, 2018-02-13 A “profound and inspiring” collection of ancient indigenous wisdom for “anyone wanting the healing of self, society, and of our shared planet” (Peter Levine, author of Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma). A Penobscot Indian draws on the experiences and wisdom of the First Nations to address environmental justice, water protection, generational trauma, and more. Drawing from ancestral knowledge, as well as her experience as an attorney and activist, Sherri Mitchell addresses some of the most crucial issues of our day—including indigenous land rights, environmental justice, and our collective human survival. Sharing the gifts she has received from the elders of her tribe, the Penobscot Nation, she asks us to look deeply into the illusions we have labeled as truth and which separate us from our higher mind and from one another. Sacred Instructions explains how our traditional stories set the framework for our belief systems and urges us to decolonize our language and our stories. It reveals how the removal of women from our stories has impacted our thinking and disrupted the natural balance within our communities. For all those who seek to create change, this book lays out an ancient world view and set of cultural values that provide a way of life that is balanced and humane, that can heal Mother Earth, and that will preserve our communities for future generations.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Indigenous Legal Traditions Law Commission of Canada, 2008 The essays in this book present important perspectives on the role of Indigenous legal traditions in reclaiming and preserving the autonomy of Aboriginal communities and in reconciling the relationship between these communities and Canadian governments. Although Indigenous peoples had their own systems of law based on their social, political, and spiritual traditions, under colonialism their legal systems have often been ignored or overruled by non-Indigenous laws. Today, however, these legal traditions are being reinvigorated and recognized as vital for the preservation of the political autonomy of Aboriginal nations and the development of healthy communities.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Legends of the Iroquois Tehanetorens, 1998 Ancient stories are presented both in pictographs and with an English translation.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Canada's Indigenous Constitution John Borrows, 2010-01-01 With characteristic richness and eloquence, John Borrows explores legal traditions, the role of governments and courts, and the prospect of a multi-juridical legal culture, all with a view to understanding and improving legal processes in Canada. He discusses the place of individuals, families, and communities in recovering and extending the role of Indigenous law within both Indigenous communities and Canadian society more broadly.--Pub. desc.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Lacrosse Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith, 1998 Describes the sport of lacrosse, its origins, and connections to the Iroquois, or Haudenosaunee, peoples.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Natives and Newcomers Bruce G. Trigger, 1986 According to convential nineteenth-century wisdom, societies of European origin were naturally progressive; native societies were static. One consequence of this attitutde was the almost universal separation of history and anthropology. Today, despite a growing interest in changes in Amerindian societies, this dichotomy continues to distort the investigation of Canadian history and to assign native peoples only a marginal place in it. Natives and Newcomers discredits that myth. In a spirited and critical re-examination of relations between the French and the Iroquoian-speaking inhabitants of the St Lawrence lowlands, from the incursions of Jacques Cartier through the explorations of Samuel de Champlain and the Jesuit missions into the early years of the royal regime, Natives and Newcomers argues that native people have played a significant role in shaping the development of Canada. Trigger also shows that the largely ignored French traders and their employees established relations with native people that were indispensable for founding a viable European colony on the St Lawrence. The brisk narrative of this period is complemented by a detailed survey of the stereotypes about native people that have influenced the development of Canadian history and anthropology and by candid discussions of how historical, ethnographical, and archaeological approaches can and cannot be combined to produce a more rounded and accurate understanding of the past.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Giving Thanks Jake Swamp, 2002-05 A Native American Thanksgiving address, offered to Mother Earth in gratitude for her bounty and for the variety of her creatures
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Indian Roots of American Democracy José Barreiro, 1992 When Europeans arrived on the continent, the Native people of the northeast, the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois, helped them find their way in the new land, taught them to raise food, and introduced them to the Iroquois rule of law, the Great Law of Peace. This rule, which united five nations and provided a rational basis to both war and diplomacy, differed in significant ways from the system of government familiar to the colonists. Benjamin Franklin and others admired the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and incorporated its symbols and principles into their thinking. Indian Roots of American Democracy examines Iroquois influences on the formation of American government in the 1700s as well as on the development of the women's rights movements in the 1800s.-- Back cover.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: A Peacemaker for Warring Nations Joseph Bruchac, 2021-04
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Exemplar of Liberty Donald A. Grinde, Bruce Elliott Johansen, 1991 We attempt to trace both ideas and the events that dramatized them: life, liberty, and happiness (Declaration of Independence); government by reason and consent rather than coercion (Albany Plan and Articles of Confederation); religious toleration (and ultimately religious acceptance) instead of a state church; checks and balances; federalism (United States Constitution); and relative equality of property, equal rights before the law, and the thorny problem of creating a government that can rule equitably across a broad geographic expanse (Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution). Native America had a substantial role in shaping these ideas, as well as the events that turned the colonies into a nation of states.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: The Great Law and the Longhouse William Nelson Fenton, 1998 The Great Law, a living tradition among the conservative Iroquois, is sustained by celebrating the condolence ceremony when they mourn a dead chief and install his successor for life on good behavior. This ritual act, reaching back to the dawn of history, maintains the League of the Iroquois, the legendary form of government that gave way over time to the Iroquois Confederacy. Fenton verifies historical accounts from his own long experience of Iroquois society, so that his political ethnography extends into the twentieth century as he considers in detail the relationship between customs and events. His main argument is the remarkable continuity of Iroquois political tradition in the face of military defeat, depopulation, territorial loss, and acculturation to European technology.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: The Code of Handsome Lake, the Seneca Prophet Handsome Lake, New York State Museum, Arthur Caswell Parker, 2018-11-13 This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: We Want Equal Rights!: The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Influence on the Women's Rights Movement Sally Roesch Wagner, 2020-08-27 We Want Equal Rights! is the story of remarkable women who laid the foundation for the modern women's movement and the American Indian nation that proved equality was possible. In 1850, these brave women challenged a culture that believed they were inferior to men. How did they envision such a world? They looked to their neighbors the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and saw how women were held in high regard, with even greater rights than men. At that time in the United States, a woman was considered subservient to her husband, who gained all his wife's wealth upon marriage. Women had no claim to their children and were considered runaway slaves if they left an abusive man. In contrast, Haudenosaunee society provided a shining example of what is possible when women are treated with respect. Read how early activists forged a path to women's equal rights using the ideals of their Indigenous neighbors.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Words of Peace in Native Land Guylaine Cliche, of Kahnawake Mohawk Traditional Council, 2016-06-07 Traditional Mohawk Teachings that speak of the importance of women, respect for nature and universal peace. Historically, the Mohawk First Nation has long been associated with violence, although their society is based on the Great Law of Peace. At long last, this book draws back a veil on the true nature of the Mohawk people, their beliefs and their great struggles. For an entire year, Guylaine Cliche spent time with people from the Traditional Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, attended ceremonies and recorded their teachings, so she could pass them on to us in writing. To echo the oral tradition, she has organized the book like a talking circle, in which fifteen people from nine different clans express themselves. To ensure the text’s accuracy, she carried out this task under the supervision of the Traditional Council. This little-known culture cannot be understood without the knowledge of certain traditional teachings unfamiliar to outsiders. These include the absolutely essential teachings of the Moon, which highlight the importance of women at the heart of society, since, according to the Mohawks, Sky Woman was the source of Creation. As a matrilineal nation, the Mohawks speak to us, among other things, of how urgent it is to re-establish female power in our modern societies. A new universal equilibrium must emerge, based on respect for the environment and a return to values of peace and understanding among nations. A heartfelt plea to make a better world a reality, this book leads us into a universe endowed with a rich and deep spirituality. It encourages us to reengage with our roots and makes us want to take concrete action to honour and respect our Mother Earth. The Kanienkehaka, “People of the Flint”, are the founders of the Five Nations of the Iroquois confederacy and the Great Law of Peace. The Traditional Mohawk Council of Kahnawake is what is known as a “Longhouse”. A Longhouse is much more than a dwelling: it’s a way of life that ensures the peace and tranquillity of its inhabitants.
  haudenosaunee great law of peace: Words that Come Before All Else , 1992 This book presents the environmental philosophies of the Haudenosaunee, as told by the members of the Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force. ... Many of the authors have included within their chapter practical examples of how they are using these philosophies to guide them in todays world. This timely book offers a different way to look at our relationship with the natural world, presenting an Indigenous and culturally-based approach to environmental problems.--Back cover