Hiawatha

This article is about the co-founder of the Iroquois Confederacy. For the fictional character in the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, see The Song of Hiawatha. For other uses, see Hiawatha (disambiguation).

"Hiawatha" by Thomas Eakins.

Hiawatha (also known as Ayenwatha, Aiionwatha, or Haiëñ'wa'tha; Onondaga)^[1] was a legendary Native American leader and founder of the Iroquois confederacy. Depending on the version of the narrative, Hiawatha lived in the 16th century and was a leader of the Onondaga or the Mohawk.

Hiawatha was a follower of The Great Peacemaker, a prophet and spiritual leader, who proposed the unification of the Iroquois peoples, who shared similar languages. Hiawatha, a skilled and charismatic orator, was instrumental in persuading the Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Oneidas, and Mohawks, to accept the Great Peacemaker's vision and band together to become the Five Nations of the Iroquois confederacy. Later, the Tuscarora nation joined the Confederacy to become the Sixth Nation.

The Hiawatha Belt

The Hiawatha Belt

The Hiawatha Belt is made of 6574 wampum beads - 38 rows by 173 rows, and has 892 white and 5682 purple beads. The purple represents the sky or universe that surrounds us, and the white represents purity and Good Mind (good thoughts, forgiveness, and understanding). The belt symbolizes the Five Nations from west to east in their respective territories across New York state—Seneca (keepers of the western door), Cayuga (People of the Swamp), Onondaga (Keepers of the Fire), Oneida (People of the Standing Stone) and Mohawk (keeper of the eastern door)—by open ‘squares’ of white beads with the central figure signifying a tree or heart. The white open squares are connected by a white band that has no beginning or end, representing all time now and forever. The band, however, does not cross through the center of each nation, meaning that each nation is supported and unified by a common bond and that each is separate in its own identity and domain. The open center also signifies the idea of a fort protected on all sides, but open in the center, symbolizing an open heart and mind within.

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy flag

The tree figure signifies the Onondaga Nation, capital of the League and home to the central council fire. It was on the shores of Onondaga Lake where the message of peace was “planted” and the hatchets were buried.^{[citation needed]} From this tree, four white roots sprouted, carrying the message of unity and peace to the four directions.

The Hiawatha Belt has been dated to the mid-18th century. Near its center, it contains a bead made of colonial lead glass. It is believed the design is as old as the league itself, and that the present belt is not the original.^[2]

The Hiawatha Belt forms the basis of the flag of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, created in the 1980s. It is also included in the logo of the Toronto Nationals, a Major Lacrosse League team.

In popular culture

• In 1940, plans for a film about the historical Hiawatha by Monogram Pictures were scrapped. The reason given was that Hiawatha's peacemaker role could be seen as "Communist propaganda."^[3][4]
• Vince Edwards played the title role of Hiawatha in the 1952 film of the same name, the last release of Monogram Pictures.
• Litefoot portrayed this historical Iroquois in Song of Hiawatha (1997).
• Hiawatha is the leader of the Iroquois in both Age of Empires III and Civilization V.

Footnotes

1. ^ Bright, William (2004). Native American Place Names of the United States. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, ISBN 080613576X pg. 166
2. ^ "Proceedings", American Philosophical Society (vol. 115, No. 6, p. 446)
3. ^ Wallechinsky, David (1975). The People's Almanac. Garden City: Doubleday. ISBN 0385040601.  p. 239
4. ^ Digital History: Post-War Hollywood

Further reading

• Bonvillain, Nancy (2005). Hiawatha : founder of the Iroquois Confederacy. ISBN 1591551765 ISBN 9781591551768
• Hale, Horatio (1881). Hiawatha and the Iroquois confederation : a study in anthropology.
• Hatzan, A. Leon (1925). The true story of Hiawatha, and history of the Six Nations Indians.
• Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe (1856). The Myth of Hiawatha, and Other Oral Legends, Mythologic and Allegoric, of the North American Indians.
• Laing, Mary E. (1920). The hero of the longhouse.
• Saraydarian, Torkom and Joann L Alesch (1984). Hiawatha and the great peace. ISBN 0911794255 ISBN 9780911794250 ISBN 091179428X ISBN 9780911794281
• Siles, William H. (1986). Studies in local history : tall tales, folklore and legend of upstate New York.

Juvenile audience

• Bonvillain, Nancy (1992). Hiawatha : founder of the Iroquois Confederacy. ISBN 0791017079 ISBN 9780791017074
• Fradin, Dennis B. (1992). Hiawatha : messenger of peace. ISBN 0689505191 ISBN 9780689505195
• McClard, Megan, George Ypsilantis and Frank Riccio (1989). Hiawatha and the Iroquois league. ISBN 0382095685 ISBN 9780382095689 ISBN 0382097572 ISBN 9780382097577
• Malkus, Alida (1963). There really was a Hiawatha.
• St. John, Natalie and Mildred Mellor Bateson (1928). Romans of the West : untold but true story of Hiawatha.
• Taylor, C. J. (2004). Peace walker : the legend of Hiawatha and Tekanawita. ISBN 0887765475 ISBN 9780887765476

External links

• View Historica’s Heritage Minute "Peacemaker", a mini-docudrama about the co founders of the Iroquois Confederacy.
• Chapter V The Iroquois Confederacy
• History of the Mohawk Valley: Dekanawida and Hiawatha, Schenectady Digital History Archive
• Google Books overview of Ancient Society
• "Chief Hiawatha". Legendary co-founder of the Iroquois League. Find a Grave. Oct 23, 2003. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6872698. Retrieved Aug 18, 2011. 

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Persondata
Name	Chief Hiawatha
Alternative names
Short description	Founder of the Iroquois League
Date of birth	c. 1525
Place of birth
Date of death	c. 1595
Place of death