Onondaga Nation

Over a thousand years ago on the shores of Onondaga Lake, in present day central New York, democracy was born. The Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca people had been warring against each other. There was great bloodshed and death surrounding us. The people of the five nations had forgotten their original ways and their actions saddened the Creator. The Creator decided to send a messenger to the people so that the five nations could live in peace. The messenger is referred to as the Peacemaker . The young woman stated that the Creator came to her in a dream that this child was special and would bring peace. Not believing in her daughter, she and her daughter moved away from the village. After the child was born, the grandmother did not want to return to the village with her daughter saying that the Creator was the father of the baby. The grandmother then tried to get rid of the baby three different times. After each attempt, the grandmother would return to their lodge and to her surprise see the baby in her mothers arms. The grandmother was now convinced that this shield was indeed special. She then helped raise him in a good way. Right away, he always talked of peace and that he was given a powerful message by the Creator. When he was ready, the Peacemaker told his mother and grandmother that he was off to bring peace to the warring people across the big lake. To show that his words of peace were true, the Peacemaker carved a canoe made entirely out of white stone ! This amazing feat would convince the people of the powerful message of peace the Creator was sending to the people. He said his goodbyes, and started his journey across the big lake in the white stone canoe. The Peacemaker told Jikonhsaseh about the message of peace and that her actions were promoting war and saddening the Creator. After listening to the Peacemaker’s message, she agreed that this message of peace was strong but needed a form. The Peacemaker told her that the form of peace will take the shape of a longhouse . Under the roof of the laws of peace, each nation will hold their own council fire. Jikonhsaseh agreed to this plan of peace. She was the first to accept the great p eace and change her ways. Because of this, the Peacemaker set aside a special duty for the women of the five nations. They will have the duty of Clan Mother . The Clan Mother will watch over the members of her clan and counsel them in a peaceful way. The Clan Mother will also have the important duty of selecting the next leader of their clan to keep the great peace continuing on. The Peacemaker started with the eastern most nation, the Mohawk . In order for his plan to succeed, the Peacemaker sought after the most feared leaders. The Peacemaker explained to them that he carried the Creator’s plan of peace. He explained that one nation standing alone can be easily broken, like a single arrow. But five nations, bound together with one heart, one mind, and one law will be powerful. He then tightly bundled five arrows to show how strong unity can be. The Mohawks liked his plan but were wary of it being a trap. If they laid down their weapons, they would be attacked. The Mohawks decided to test the Peacemaker. The Mohawks instructed the Peacemaker to climb a tree that overhanged over a large waterfall (now named Cohoes Falls ). If he survived, they would accept his plan of peace was indeed sent by the Creator. Peacemaker climbed the tree and watched as the Mohawks cut the tree and watched the Peacemaker fall over the waterfall. The next day the Mohawks were surprised to find the Peacemaker sitting on the shore by the waterfall. The Mohawks were then the first Nation to accept the peace. The Peacemaker continued traveling west, seeking out the most evil and dangerous men. The Peacemaker next met the Oneida where he told them of living united under one law in the shape of a longhouse and the strength of five unified arrows. Slowly the peace began to grow as the Oneid