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)