Iroquois Culture & Commentary"Written by an Iroquois leader, this informative book offers a dynamic insider view of Iroquois history, culture, and traditions - from the founding of the Great Law of Peace nearly a thousand years ago to the current movement to revitalize cultural traditions and recover some portion of the lost homelands. The author's concise descriptions challenge the stereotypes and common assumptions that limit our understanding of the peoples of the great Six Nation Iroquois Confederacy, whose settled territories once spanned most of what is now the northeastern United States. Doug George-Kanentiio, who is a member of the Mohawk nation, covers a multitude of fascinating subjects, beginning with Iroquois origin stories and spiritual, communal, and civic traditions. He offers an Iroquois viewpoint on issues that are vital to the Six Nations' survival, including land-claims, sovereignty, and the environment, and gives a frank account of internal social problems. Stories of Iroquois leaders and heroes include historical figures such as the Seneca prophet Handsome Lake as well as contemporary elders whom the author has known personally." -- |
Common terms and phrases
aboriginal acres active Aiionwatha Akwesasne American ancestral ancient berdaches Brant called Canadian Canandaigua casino Cayuga Nation Cayugas central New York Ceremony chiefs child clan clanmother corn Council of Chiefs Creator culture denosaunee economic elders elected European faithkeepers federacy George given Grand Council Handsome Lake Haudenosaunee Confederacy healing held human Indian indigenous Iroquois believed Iroquois Confederacy Iroquois law Iroquois nations Iroquois society Iroquois territory Joanne Shenandoah land claims Law of Peace Lawrence River League Leon Shenandoah living longhouse million Mohawk Nation Mohawk Nation Council Mohawk territory Mother Earth Native natural North America Oneida Nation Onondaga Lake Onondaga Nation Ontario Peacemaker plants political quois Regis Tribal Council reservation rituals rotiiane sacred Seneca Nation Skaniatariio Skennenrahawi smuggling social spirit world spiritual survive Tadodaho thunder tion traditional Iroquois treaty Treaty of Canandaigua Tuscaroras U.S. federal wampum Wari:so:se women