STRUCTURES OF STRUCTURES OF GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

The Iroquois ConfederacyThe Iroquois Confederacy

Sovereignty

1. Supremacy of authority or rule as exercised by a sovereign or sovereign state.

2. Royal rank, authority, or power.3. Complete independence and self-

government.4. A territory existing as an independent s

tate.

There were about 500 distinct

aboriginal nations at the time of first contact with Europeans

Aboriginal Perspectives on Aboriginal Perspectives on GovernmentGovernment

At the time of first contact, Aboriginal people had well established, long standing governments in place as complex as any found in Europe

Each nation recognized the sovereignty of the other; with many forming trade and political alliances with others

All aboriginal societies contained all elements of political communities and nationhood: their own cultures, languages, values, heritage, and territoriality

Aboriginal Government Aboriginal Government SystemsSystemsEgalitarian

A political doctrine that holds that all people should be treated as equals and have the same political, economic, social, and civil rights.

Generally it applies to being held equal under the law and society at large.

Aboriginal Government Aboriginal Government SystemsSystems

Democratic

A form of government in which power is held directly or indirectly by citizens under a free electoral system.

All members of the society (citizens) have equal access to power and all members enjoy universally recognized freedoms and liberties.

Aboriginal Government Aboriginal Government StructuresStructures Government structures in each

Aboriginal societies varied Grounded in world view based on

spirituality and living in balance with the environment

Valued and respected the rights of individuals

All had role in the decision making process

European Government European Government SystemsSystems

Absolute Monarchy

A monarchical form of government where the king or queen has absolute power over all aspects of his/her subjects' lives

Society is divided by rigid social classes structure

There is no constitution or legal restriction on the monarch's power

The Iroquois The Iroquois ConfederacyConfederacy

Who:Who: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and

SenecaWhat:What: Consisted of five First NationsWhen:When: Can be traced back to 1142 CE (Tuscaroras joined in 1722)Where:Where: Living south of Lake OntarioWhy:Why: The original five First

Nations were in a constant state of war and peace between them was needed

The Iroquois The Iroquois ConfederacyConfederacy Founded by

Dekanahwideh who travelled urging the Nations to join together under the Great Law of Peace

The Great Law of Peace was an unwritten constitution passed down orally from generation to generation

The Great Law of Peace was used as an influence when the American Constitution was created

Motto of the Five Nations was “One Heart, One Mind, One Law”

European illustration by Francis Drake in 1884 depicts Dekanahwideh (left), with his

disciple Hiawatha (centre), meeting Atotarho, chief of

the Great Council

The Iroquois The Iroquois ConfederacyConfederacy A constitution is a

statement of the basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or group, such as the Canada’s constitution, The Constitution Act, 1867

Can be written or unwritten

These are the laws which state how we are to govern ourselves

The Iroquois The Iroquois ConfederacyConfederacy People of the Iroquois Confederacy are

known today as the Haudenosaunee Livelihood as accomplished farmers

enabled people to establish communities Developed a complex system based on

democratic principles Power of government began with the

individual and flowed outward to the family, clan, village, nation, and then Confederacy

The Iroquois The Iroquois ConfederacyConfederacy

Symbol of the Confederacy is the Longhouse

Traditional seating places:

Mohawk: Guarded East DoorSeneca: Guarded West DoorOnondaga: Tended Hearth and FireCayuga: Sitting to the South of the FireOnieda: Sitting to the North of the Fire

The Iroquois The Iroquois ConfederacyConfederacy

Culture was matrilineal – families and clans trace ancestral lines on the mother’s side

Men still became chiefs Oldest woman in village

was known as the Clan Mother – held balance of power and had authority to appoint and remove chiefs

Other roles – caretakers of the land, controlling family economic interests, and educating younger generations

The Iroquois The Iroquois ConfederacyConfederacy

Clan chiefs in village formed village council

A village chief was selected to serve on the Nations Council

Nations Council Chief selected for Confederacy Council

Form of representative democracy – members voted on issues at annual meetings – consensus required