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November is Native American Heritage Month!
Did you know that the U.S. Constitution was heavily influenced by the organizational systems of Native Americans??
Benjamin Franklin published translated versions of their treaties and statements about the Iroquois Great Law of Peace. https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1322902463574409217
Did you know that the U.S. Constitution was heavily influenced by the organizational systems of Native Americans??
Benjamin Franklin published translated versions of their treaties and statements about the Iroquois Great Law of Peace. https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1322902463574409217
American colonists had significant diplomatic and trading relations with native societies for most of the 18th century.
Benjamin Franklin’s documents chronicling native life & governance were best-sellers at the time, including speeches from Iroquois leaders.
Benjamin Franklin’s documents chronicling native life & governance were best-sellers at the time, including speeches from Iroquois leaders.
Canassatego, an Onondaga chief, spoke to representatives from PA, MD & VA at a treaty conference in 1744 (Declaration of Independence was later 1776).
Canassatego encouraged the colonialists to form their own federation.
He's sometimes called the "Forgotten Founding Father."
Canassatego encouraged the colonialists to form their own federation.
He's sometimes called the "Forgotten Founding Father."
Chief Canassatego used a metaphor to illustrate the federal system the Iroquois had— that many arrows cannot be broken as easily as one.
This inspired the bundle of 13 arrows held by an eagle in the Great Seal of the United States to this day.
This inspired the bundle of 13 arrows held by an eagle in the Great Seal of the United States to this day.
Iroquois was the French name given to them; they call themselves the Haudenosaunee or “People of the Longhouse.”
The Iroquois Confederacy was originally composed of 5 separate tribes: the Mohawk (Kanienkehaka), Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga & Seneca. In 1723 the Tuscarora joined.
The Iroquois Confederacy was originally composed of 5 separate tribes: the Mohawk (Kanienkehaka), Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga & Seneca. In 1723 the Tuscarora joined.
The 6 tribes of the Iroquois confederacy were autonomous entities like states, but, joined together as one nation to cooperate for the common good in what is now upstate New York & parts of Canada.
Canada's a name adapted from the Haudenosaunee word “kanata” which means village.
Canada's a name adapted from the Haudenosaunee word “kanata” which means village.
Haudenosaunee “People of the Longhouse” refers to their traditional lengthy bark-covered longhouses that sheltered many families.
They envisioned their Confederacy as a longhouse. It had six different doors, but once they entered, everyone became one family inside— united.
They envisioned their Confederacy as a longhouse. It had six different doors, but once they entered, everyone became one family inside— united.
The Iroquois Great Law of Peace or “Kaianerekowa” was created circa 1100.
The Great Law was the first federal constitution on the American continent (not the U.S.A.)! It joined the tribes together.
The Great Law introduced a new way of organizing— one of balance.
The Great Law was the first federal constitution on the American continent (not the U.S.A.)! It joined the tribes together.
The Great Law introduced a new way of organizing— one of balance.
Under the Iroquois Great Law of Peace leaders of each clan were not warriors, but peace chiefs (or sachem). For every chief, there was an equal clan mother, or matron. Neither made decisions for the confederacy.
Power rested with the people & decisions were made by consensus.
Power rested with the people & decisions were made by consensus.
Approximately 1/4 of the Great Law’s clauses recognize the power & influence of Iroquois women.
As opposed to patriarchal systems the colonists were accustomed to, under the Iroquois matrilineal kinship system, inheritance & social status were passed through the maternal line.
As opposed to patriarchal systems the colonists were accustomed to, under the Iroquois matrilineal kinship system, inheritance & social status were passed through the maternal line.
The clan mother is the highest official in the Iroquois polity.
The symbol of power that a chief wore was crown-like & made of antlers. Female leaders have the power to remove his crown & fire him as a leader (literally de-horn him).
The symbol of power that a chief wore was crown-like & made of antlers. Female leaders have the power to remove his crown & fire him as a leader (literally de-horn him).
If men wanted to go to war but Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) women opposed the fight, the women were able to withhold supplies from the warriors.
While they were not chiefs themselves, clan matrons could pick ambassadors & participate in diplomatic gatherings.
While they were not chiefs themselves, clan matrons could pick ambassadors & participate in diplomatic gatherings.
The concept of voting does not easily transfer across cultures, bc the U.S. became a representative democracy & decisions are made in the Iroquois Confederacy by consensus (not voting for elected officials), but women have equal representation at Haudenosaunee councils.
Anthropologist Alice Fletcher studied turn of the century Native culture & quoted one native woman:
“As an Indian woman I was free. I owned my home, my person, the work of my own hands & my children should never forget me. I was better as an Indian woman than under white law.”
“As an Indian woman I was free. I owned my home, my person, the work of my own hands & my children should never forget me. I was better as an Indian woman than under white law.”
TL;DR—
The rich, white men who wrote the U.S. Constitution took the idea of federalism from the Iroquois Confederacy, but stripped out women's equality & participation.
They did this on purpose.
We can learn a lot by studying native governance & gender equity.
/end
The rich, white men who wrote the U.S. Constitution took the idea of federalism from the Iroquois Confederacy, but stripped out women's equality & participation.
They did this on purpose.
We can learn a lot by studying native governance & gender equity.
/end
