Haudenosaunee’s Legendary Founding | Native America | Sacred Stories | PBS

Summary

The script narrates the tale of Hiawatha, a warrior, and the Peacemaker, who together sought to establish peace among the warring tribes. They utilized the Condolence Ceremony, a ritual using wampum to clear minds and hearts, to heal grief. With the help of Jigonsaseh, the first clan mother, they persuaded the warlord Tadodaho to abandon war. Under a solar eclipse, the Peacemaker presented the Hiawatha belt and proclaimed the law of peace, uniting the nations under the tree of peace.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The narrative centers on a warrior named Hiawatha and a prophet called the Peacemaker.
• 🌐 Hiawatha introduces a symbolic ritual using wampum to help individuals in grief, known as the Condolence Ceremony.
• 🐚 The Condolence Ceremony employs the purity of shells to clear the senses and mind, a practice still observed by the Haudenosaunee.
• 🔮 Tadodaho, a sorcerer with supernatural powers, is depicted as a formidable character who communicates with animals.
• 🤝 Hiawatha and the Peacemaker seek an alliance with Jigonsaseh, a powerful woman, to persuade Tadodaho to join their confederacy.
• 👵 Jigonsaseh, recognized as the first clan mother, plays a pivotal role in bringing peace to the Iroquois and the Haudenosaunee.
• 🤝 The Peacemaker negotiates with Jigonsaseh, promising her the power to select chiefs if she can end the war.
• 🌿 Jigonsaseh's influence leads to Tadodaho's transformation, causing him to renounce war.
• 🌳 The Peacemaker convenes representatives from each nation under a solar eclipse to establish the law of peace.
• 🌞 The Hiawatha belt, woven anew, symbolizes unity and is presented during the first recitation of the law of peace under the tree of peace.

Q & A

Who is Hiawatha in the story?

Hiawatha is a warrior in the story who meets the Peacemaker and plays a crucial role in the formation of the new confederacy.

What is the significance of the wampum in the story?

The wampum is used in the Condolence Ceremony to help a person in grief by clearing their eyes, opening their ears, and clearing their throat to speak clearly.

What is the Condolence Ceremony?

The Condolence Ceremony is a ritual using the purity of shells to bring a person to a clear state of mind, invented by Hiawatha.

Which culture still practices the Condolence Ceremony today?

The Haudenosaunee, also known as the Iroquois, still practice the Condolence Ceremony today.

Who is Tadodaho and what is his role in the story?

Tadodaho is a sorcerer with supernatural powers who can communicate with animals. He is initially a mean man but is convinced to join the new confederacy.

What is the role of Jigonsaseh in the story?

Jigonsaseh is the first clan mother who helps bring peace to the Iroquois. She plays a key role in convincing Tadodaho to abandon war.

What deal does the Peacemaker strike with Jigonsaseh?

The Peacemaker strikes a deal with Jigonsaseh that if she can stop the war, she can choose the chiefs.

How does Jigonsaseh transform Tadodaho's mind?

Jigonsaseh transforms Tadodaho's mind by convincing him to abandon war, thus overcoming the final obstacle to peace.

What significant event occurs during the total eclipse of the sun?

During a total eclipse of the sun, the Peacemaker holds the newly woven Hiawatha belt and speaks the law of peace for the first time.

What does the Hiawatha belt symbolize?

The Hiawatha belt symbolizes the unity and the law of peace established among the nations under the tree of peace.