1. The Great Law of Peace
Messages from the Creator to the
Haudenosaunee

2. 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

3. Tree as Symbol of the Great Law
• White roots of Peace
– 4 Directions
• Weapons of war

4. The Peacemaker
• From the Creator
• Virgin birth
• Journey of the White
Stone Canoe
• Time of Chaos
– Original Instructions
were forgotten by
Haudenosaunee

5. Jigonsaseh
• First to hear the
Peacemaker’s
message
• Mother of the clans
– Women will make
decisions

6. Hiawantha
• Another man with the
message of Peace at
Onondaga
• Afflicted with grief of
the murder of his
daughters
• Wanders aimlessly

7. The Peacemaker and Hiawantha
• With wampum and
words the
Peacemaker lifts the
grief of Hiawantha
• Discovery and first
use of wampum

8. Meeting with the Tadodaho
• Evil man of the salt
marshes around
Onondaga Lake
• Combing his hair
Straightening his
thoughts
• Becomes the office of
Tadodaho

9. Formation of the Great Law
• Each Nation (Seneca,
Tuscarora, Cayuga,
Onondaga, Oneida,
Mohawk) sends clan
chiefs to council at
Onondaga

10. Clan System
• Basic unit of the Great Law
• Clan mother, chooses Chief, Faithkeepers and
sub-chief
• Matrilineal
– Inherit clan affiliation through the mother

11. 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

12. Haudenosaunee Flag
• Symbol of Confederation
• Symbol of survival
– Strength in unity

13. Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation
(NOON)
http://www.peacecouncil.net/NOON/

14. NOON potlucks and vigils

15. Roots of Peacemaking:
Indigenous Values, Global Crisis
• UN International Day
of Peace
– At Onondaga Lake
– 21 September 2006
• Jane Goodall, Oren
Lyons, Tom Porter

16. Japanese visit 2005

17. Jane Goodall 2006

19. Onondaga Land Rights and Our Common
Future Educational Series (2006 & 2010)

20. Indigenous
Values
Initiative
(IVI)