The U.S. Senate in 1988 paid tribute to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois people) with a resolution that said, “The confederation of the original 13 colonies into a republic was influenced by the political system developed by the Haudenosaunee, as were many of the democratic principles which were incorporated into the Constitution itself.”

“The Five Nations all agreed that common causes would be decided in the Grand Council of chiefs. The concept was based on peace and consensus,” said Chief Oren Lyons. The balance of power between the President, House of Representatives and Senate was also based on Haudenosaunee law.

In 1744 Canassatego, the Onondaga leader gave a speech about; NEVER DISAGREE, BUT PRESERVE A STRICT FRIENDSHIP FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND THEREBY YOU WILL BECOME STRONGER. THEREFORE, WHATEVER BEFALLS YOU, YOU WILL NEVER FALL OUT WITH ONE ANOTHER. Ben Franklin adopted these ideas when he presented his plan of union in 1754. Canassatego used a metaphor in that presentation that said, “many arrows cannot be broken as easily as one.” This statement inspired the bundle of arrows held by an eagle on the Great Seal of the U.S.

AS A NATION WE HAVE LOST SOME OF THESE PRINCIPLES. WE HAVE TO ASK GUIDANCE FROM OUR HAUDENOSAUNEE FRIENDS TO REGAIN THOSE PRINCIPLES OF STRONG KINSHIP BONDS WITHIN OUR GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY. THEY HAVE A LEADERSHIP THAT IS TRULY A SERVICE TO THEIR SOCIETY. THE HAUDENOSAUNEE HAVE A BELIEF THAT DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE TODAY SHOULD LEAD TO SUSTAINABILITY FOR SEVEN GENERATIONS INTO THE FUTURE. 

HOPEFULLY OUR POLITICIANS AND LEADERS IN SOCIETY CAN SEE THE VALUE IN THE HAUDENOSAUNEE GOVERNMENT. OUR LEADERS OF THE PAST SAW THE VALUE. LET US REMEMBER WHAT THE HAUDENOSAUNEE LEADERS GAVE US.

PLEASE TAKE CARE, ALWAYS STAY WELL, ALWAYS STAY HEALTHY

Categories: PERSPECTIVES

ron winnegrad

Ron Winnegrad has been a Perfumer and teacher for 46 years. As a perfumer, Ron has been able to express the world he sees through a rainbow of olfactive and emotive visions. As a teacher, Ron has helped others to see fragrance through his own multi sensorial lens.