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TRANSCRIPT
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