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. ...
Hiawatha's success in uniting independent nations may be seen today not only as a proud moment for the Iroquois but also as a vision of peaceful coexistence for a world struggling to survive.
