Iroquois

• 1. Origins And Formation

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  The Great Peacemaker arrived in the southern Great Lakes area around 1450 to unite squabbling Iroquoian nations. Deganawidah, Hiawatha, and Jigonsaseh the Mother of Nations brought the Great Law of Peace to end centuries of feuding. Five distinct nations joined this confederacy: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. The Onondagas sat in the center as Fire Keepers while the Mohawks guarded the Western Door. A solar eclipse on the 31st of August 1142 may have marked an earlier founding date according to oral tradition. Archaeologist Dean Snow argues evidence does not support dates before 1450. Some scholars suggest the League formed shortly after that specific celestial event. The confederacy became a symbolic household where all individuals lived together in one lodge called Ganonsyoni. This structure created a highly egalitarian society with no kind of superiority allowed over another.

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• 2. Political Structure And Society

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  A Grand Council of fifty chiefs or sachems ruled disputes and sought consensus among the five nations. Clan mothers possessed considerable economic and political power within Canadian Iroquois communities. These women met in council with their male counterparts to take decisions regarding war and peace. They joined delegations to confront the Onontio, the French governor-general, in Montreal. Eighteenth-century English historiography often overlooked the real influence wielded by these women. The Mohawks, Onondagas, and Senecas were Elder Brothers who counseled across the fire with Younger Brothers. Oneidas and Cayugas sat opposite them during meetings at Onondaga Lake near present-day Syracuse. An evil Onondaga chieftain named Tadodaho was the last converted to the ways of peace. He received the position as titular chair of the League's Council representing unity of all nations. The title Tadodaho remains used for the fiftieth chief sitting with the Onondaga today. British colonial administrator declared in 1749 that they had absolute notions of liberty allowing no servitude.

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• 3. The Beaver Wars Era

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  Beginning in 1609 the League engaged decades-long Beaver Wars against French allies and neighboring tribes. They invaded Algonquian peoples including the Lenape or Delaware and Anishinaabe of boreal regions. By 1645 tentative peace formed between Iroquois and Huron but Mohawk warriors attacked Jesuit envoys en route. Two priests Jean de Lalande and Isaac Jogues died on the 18th of October 1646 at Ossernenon village. In 1649 an Iroquois war party destroyed the Huron nation using recently purchased Dutch guns. Attacks targeted Huron towns Taenhatentaron and St. Louis in Simcoe County Ontario. The Jesuit missions abandoned their settlements leading surviving Hurons east toward French colonies. Between 1651 and 1652 the Iroquois attacked Susquehannock to their south without sustained success. By 1676 power of Susquehannock broken from epidemic disease and warfare effects. They displaced about 1,200 Siouan-speaking tribepeople like Quapaw Ofo Mosopelea out of Ohio River valley region. These tribes migrated to Mississippi River and Piedmont regions of east coast.

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• 4. Colonial Diplomacy And Alliances

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  The Five Nations established trading relationship with Dutch at Fort Orange modern Albany New York exchanging furs for European goods. This economic relationship profoundly changed their way of life leading to much over-hunting of beavers. By 1640 almost no beavers left reducing Iroquois to middlemen between Indian peoples west and north. Queen Anne commissioned portraits by John Verelst of three Mohawk chiefs traveling to London in 1710. These paintings believed earliest surviving oil portraits of Aboriginal peoples taken from life. In 1738 Irishman Sir William Johnson settled among Iroquois becoming main intermediary between British and League. He learned languages and became very rich from fur trade and land speculation. By 1745 Johnson appointed Northern superintendent of Indian Affairs formalizing his position. The Iroquois played major supporting role in final British victory during Seven Years War ending September 1760. They helped General Jeffrey Amherst take various French forts by Great Lakes and St Lawrence valley. During King Williams War they allied with English while remaining mostly neutral after 1701 peace treaty signed with French.

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• 5. American Revolution And Division

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  During American Revolution the Iroquois first tried stay neutral but pressure forced them join one side or other. Reverend Samuel Kirkland pressured Oneida and Tuscarora for pro-American neutrality while Guy Johnson pushed Mohawk Cayuga Seneca fight for British. Joseph Louis Cook received Congressional commission as lieutenant colonel highest rank held any Native American during war. Mohawk war chief Joseph Brant raised racially mixed forces irregulars to fight for Crown. They conducted numerous operations against frontier settlements including Cherry Valley massacre destroying villages killing inhabitants. George Washington ordered Sullivan Campaign led by Col Daniel Brodhead and General John Sullivan in 1779. They burned many Iroquois villages stores throughout western New York forcing refugees move north to Canada. Treaty of Paris signed 1783 made no provisions for Iroquois left treatied with by new U.S government. In 1784 total 6,000 Iroquois faced 240,000 New Yorkers land-hungry New Englanders poised migrate west. Oneidas alone only 600 strong owned six million acres about 2.4 million hectares. By War Of 1812 Iroquois lost control considerable territory after selling remaining claims south Ohio River 1768.

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• 6. Modern Sovereignty Struggles

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  In 1990 long-running dispute over ownership land at Oka Quebec caused violent stand-off lasting until September 26. Mohawk Warrior Society occupied land claimed belonging Mohawk people plus Mercier bridge linking Island Montreal south shore St Lawrence. Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa asked Canadian Army intervene maintaining public safety deploying Royal 22e Regiment. A shoot-out between Warrior Society and Sûreté du Québec left policeman dead the 11th of July 1990. During World War I half 4,000 First Nations men serving CEF were Iroquois particularly Mohawks most warlike Six Nations. William Forster Lickers captured Second Battle Ypres April 1915 beaten savagely by German officer testing if Indians feel pain. He paralyzed rest life though officer well pleased establish fact. In 1921 Haudenosaunee hired lawyer defend rights Supreme Court Canada declaring members British citizens. Cayuga Chief Deskaheh sent England petitioning King George V while Canada blocked issuing passports. They issued own passports meeting with Dutch Queen asking sponsorship League Of Nations. On the 27th of September 1923 delegates Estonia Ireland Panama Persia signed letter requesting communication petition to League assembly but effort blocked.

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