Indian Roots of American Democracy

Shifting mythologies of the cultural origins of the United States

José Barriero: Introduction

• Problems with history– Of accepting the connection with the

Haudenosaunee• 1754 Albany Plan of Union– Precedent for writing the Constitution– Meeting of Founding Fathers and

Haudenosaunee Chiefs• Controversial with non-Native scholars– Starna, Axtell, Tooker, Fenton

Tom Porter (Kanatsiohareke) http://www.mohawkcommunity.com/

• Royaner (Mohawk); “Chief”– “Man of a good mind”– Family man and leader– Trouble with being an

expert, Ph.D.– Honoring women, Creation

• Remembering the body• They choose the royaner

– Poorest people (p. 19)• Skin 7 layers thick

John Mohawk (SUNY-Buffalo)

• Being a Chief is hard• Haudenosaunee Great Law is being

accountable to Creation– Example: Duty to keep the water pure

• Takes great amounts of thinking• Who else outside the West thinks?• Who else outside the West has contributed

to the formation of Western Culture?

Oren Lyons (SUNY-Buffalo; Faithkeeper from Onondaga)

• Peacemaker brings the Great Law– 2 Houses of Grand

Council– 50 Chiefs– Onondaga listen to

debate– Tadodaho

• Chief of Confederacy, not just his clan

Audrey Shenandoah (Clan Mother at Onondaga Nation)

• Everything has to be in balance• Male and Female power– Not equality but balance

• Women oversee material life of clans– Choose Male Chiefs• Remove them if necessary

– Naming children• Future of University– Extending peace by learning about others