This document discusses the influence of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy on the founding of the United States and its democratic principles. It features interviews with several Haudenosaunee leaders who discuss the Great Law of Peace that united the Six Nations, the balanced roles of men and women in decision making, and the responsibility of leaders to consider the impact of decisions on future generations and the environment.

1. Indian Roots of American
Democracy
Shifting mythologies of the cultural
origins of the United States

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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?

5. 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

6. 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