The Great Law of Peace
Messages from the Creator to the Haudenosaunee
3 Messages of the Haudenosaunee
• 1. Creation and Thanksgiving Ceremonies– Thanksgiving Address
• 2. The Great Law of Peace– Condolence
• 3. Gaiwiyo, Code of Handsome Lake
Tree as Symbol of the Great Law
• White roots of Peace– 4 Directions
• Weapons of war
The Peacemaker
• From the Creator• Virgin birth• Journey of the White
Stone Canoe• Time of Chaos– Original Instructions
were forgotten by Haudenosaunee
Jigonsaseh
• First to hear the Peacemaker’s message
• Mother of the clans– Women will make
decisions
Hiawantha
• Another man with the message of Peace at Onondaga
• Afflicted with grief of the murder of his daughters
• Wanders aimlessly
The Peacemaker and Hiawantha
• With wampum and words the Peacemaker lifts the grief of Hiawantha
• Discovery and first use of wampum
Meeting with the Tadodaho
• Evil man of the salt marshes around Onondaga Lake
• Combing his hairStraightening his thoughts
• Becomes the office of Tadodaho
Formation of the Great Law
• Each Nation (Seneca, Tuscarora, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk) sends clan chiefs to council at Onondaga
Clan System
• Basic unit of the Great Law• Clan mother, chooses Chief, Faithkeepers and
sub-chief• Matrilineal– Inherit clan affiliation through the mother
Handsome Lake
• Third Messenger• Late 1700’s chaos returned– Tied to white, European culture
• Alcoholic• Died and had vision– Alcohol, Bible, Cards and Fiddles (culture)– Haudensaunee will survive only by staying
true to their Instructions
Haudenosaunee Flag
• Symbol of Confederation• Symbol of survival– Strength in unity
Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation (NOON)http://www.peacecouncil.net/NOON/
NOON potlucks and vigils
Roots of Peacemaking: Indigenous Values, Global Crisis
• UN International Day of Peace– At Onondaga Lake– 21 September 2006
• Jane Goodall, Oren Lyons, Tom Porter
Japanese visit 2005
Jane Goodall 2006
Onondaga Land Rights and Our Common Future Educational Series (2006 & 2010)
Indigenous Values Initiative (IVI)