The Haudenosaunee: a democracy of Nations

Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) histories tell how Peacemaker and Hiawatha formed the Haudenosaunee, bringing together the Kanien’kehaka (Mohawk), Onyota’a:ka (Oneida), Onodagehono (Onondaga), Gayogho:no (Cayuga) and Onodowaga (Seneca) Nations. The Haudenosaunee became known as the Six Nations when the Ska-ru-ren (Tuscaroras) joined in the 18^th century.

Today, each Nation continues to select representatives in the Haudenosaunee Grand Council, where agreement on matters is reached by consensus.

Some have suggested that the democracy of the Six Nations may have been the blueprint for the Constitution of the United States.

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