English

For some 600 years, Hiawatha has been revered among the Iroquois people as a hero of mythic proportions. His greatest accomplishment lay in founding the Iroquois Confederacy, a league of nations that stresses cooperation, peace, and unity.

In the time of Hiawatha, the Iroquois--comprising the Onondaga, Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca nations--were embroiled in numerous conflicts, both internal and external. Saddened by the violence, Hiawatha used his great oratory skills to try to convince his people to stop warring. ...

The Iroquois Confederacy was formed when five Native American nations agreed to unite in peace and accept a constitution that guaranteed each nation equal representation in government and the freedom to preserve its own traditions. Later expanding to six nations, the Iroquois Confederacy was an inspiration to the founders of the United States. This book details their religion and culture, while telling the story of their journey from ancient times to today.

Tehanetorens is a master story teller in the Mohawk tradition. In Legends of the Iroquois ancient stories are presented both in pictographs and with an English translation. The text is beautifully supported with illustrations by the accomplished Iroquois artist Kahionhes. The legends carry us deep into a Native American culture and teach basic lessons about what it means to be a human being.