Why was hiawatha important

All of those who wanted to speak out against him did not, for fear of fatal retribution. Finally, there is Deganawida, or the Great Peacemaker, who was an outsider, traditionally seen as coming from the north, from the nation of the Wyandot or Huron people, to bring a message of peace to unite the Five Nations. Some versions of the narrative also include Jigonsahseh Jigonsaseh , or the Peace Queen, a woman descended from the Sky Mother herself. Her encouragement and approval of the Great Peacemaker's message of peace symbolizes the ritual of gaining consent of a council of women, or clan mothers, before major political actions were taken.

The longhouse describes not only the building within which they lived, but their way of life and internal political structure. Archaeological records place the founding of the League sometime in the late s. During the 15th century, the Great Peacemaker, a prophet and chief, travelled south from his homeland to reside in the land of the Mohawk. It was here, following Hiawatha's self-exile after the death of his wife and daughters, that these two men met and shared their passions for ending the war and violence amongst the Haudenosaunee.

Hiawatha, in his deep depression, had a clouded mind. He could not think clearly and his rage had stolen away his sense of reason and rationality. The ceremony of condolence that the Great Peacemaker taught to Hiawatha was first performed in response to this grief. Anguish had the ability to push survivors of the blood feuds deep into despair, causing them to disregard reason and to lead them towards fits of rage, which could be harmful to themselves, as well as to the community at large.

The condolence ceremony would help them to achieve that. Being unaffected by grief, the Great Peacemaker was of sound mind, and could perform the ceremony. Only those with clear minds could do so. First, he dried the eyes of the weeping mourner, so that he could see. Second, he opened the ears of Hiawatha, so that he could hear; and finally, he cleared the throat, so that he could speak. After this ceremony, the pain and sorrow was vanquished from the mourner, and his reason returned. This ceremony was key to uniting the warring Five Nations.

As an outsider, the Great Peacemaker's message was not influenced by allegiance to any particular band. He spoke of the peace from his heart, rather than from any personal interest. Once reformed by the Great Peacemaker, Hiawatha became his disciple, travelling the lands of the Five Nations to preach the good news of the condolence ceremony. So that he would not forget the ritual, he immortalized it within the beads made from shells, known as wampum , which he wore around his neck.

According to some legends, he first began with the Mohawk , the easternmost nation of the Haudenosaunee , and eventually made his was westward toward the Oneida. Both nations, after the traditional waiting period of a year, approved of the message of the Great Peacemaker. Hiawatha returned to his home village of the Onondaga , and approached the great war chieftain Atotarho to deliver his message of peace.

All the warriors of the region feared the dark magic of Atotarho, whose hair was said to be entangled with snakes.

Atotarho had risen to power during the blood feuds and mourning wars; consequently, he did not approve of a peace between the warring nations.

Undaunted, Hiawatha continued onto the Cayuga and the Seneca , both of whom signed onto the gospel of the Great Peacemaker. But they will govern their people under one common law, one heart, and one mind. The Peacemaker also gave the power to the women Clan Mothers to replace and remove the leaders. The Hiawatha belt is comprised of 5 symbols joined together and when reading the nations of the belts, we follow the path of the sun, starting in the East. The first nation on the belt and the first nation to accept the peace is the Mohawk, our Eastern Doorkeeper of our common longhouse.

Any nation willing to enter the lands of the Haudenosaunee from the east must seek permission from the Mohawks first. There are 9 Hoyane Chiefs sitting in the Mohawk Council. The next symbol represents the council fire of the Oneida, the People of the Standing Stone. There are 9 Hoyane Chiefs sitting in the Oneida Council. The third symbol the tree represents Onondaga. Here the Peacemaker uprooted the tallest white pine, the Tree of Peace, which leaders buried their weapons of hate, jealousy, and war beneath it they buried the hatchet.

Since Onondaga lies in the middle of the peace, the Peacemaker also titled them the Firekeepers of the Haudenosaunee. It is because of this that Hiawatha was able to join together the five tribes that would form the Confederation.

The tribes shared a constitution and were a democracy, with the Onandaga, the central tribe, having the deciding vote when necessary. Each tribe lived independently, but their confederation ensured peace for all of them. This confederation, brought together by Hiawatha, still exists today. Dan Bullock died at age 15 in and efforts to recognize the young African-American Marine continue and are highlighted in this Military Times documentary. An cavalry clash at Boonsboro, Md.