Tribute

The councilors will present a special tribute to our honored forefathers, Hiawatha and Deganawida, the Peacemaker. These two great chiefs made peace among the Iroquois and united our tribes into the Ongwanonhsioni.

Hiawatha

Hiawatha was an Onondaga chief. He was a peaceful man who wanted to stop warring with his neighbors. But Tadodaho, the evil warrior chief, was scornful of Hiawatha and his attempts at peace. According to the Onondagas, the evil chief used magic to kill Hiawatha's daughters. Full of grief, Hiawatha wandered in the forest. A Mohawk woman saw Hiawatha and spoke of him to Deganawida, a wandering prophet who was staying in her village.

Deganawida, the Peacemaker

Deganawida, the Peacemaker, had already persuaded the Mohawk to accept a peace plan. When Deganawida heard about Hiawatha, he sent for him. Seeing that Hiawatha was mourning, he consoled him and cured Hiawatha of his grief. The Mohawk soon adopted Hiawatha and made him a chief. Hiawatha then helped Deganawida spread the Good News of Peace and Power to four more nations, including the Onondaga. Their effort led to the creation of the Five Nations.