BY: PHIL PRESTON

INDIAN TIME - VOLUME 22 - NUMBER 8 - FEBRUARY 26, 2004 EDITION

We see this symbol all over signs, on stickers, cars, clothing, letterheads, official seals, pens, even on flags. But, what does it mean? Is this symbol our "Nation Flag?" Firmly, the answer is No. We never had flags or any official singular symbolism of the Haudenosaunee. This symbol is from a Wampum Belt Record with very deep, symbolic meaning dating back to the establishment of the Kaieneraserakowa (Great Law and/or Great Peace). Wampum Belts show a picture of an Agreement, Law, or Treaty. They were made to record important issues, or to send official word to a neighboring Nation or Village. The images "brighten the minds" of the interpreter so that the message of the belt can be read.

To truly interpret what this belt represents would take days and the use of one of our traditional languages. However, there are a few simple and obvious parts that can be shared. If you were to have a map of New York State in front of you, you might lay the Hiawatha Belt across it and this would show a general map of our traditional Iroquois territory. The small rectangles on the right and left hand sides of the belt represent the Elder Brothers: the Mohawk Nation in the east, and the Seneca Nation in the west. The two large rectangles represent the Younger Brothers: the Oneidas and the Cayugas. The center shape represents the Firekeepers: the Onondagas. These are the original and official Five Nations of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee Confederacy). In the east, starting around the Hudson River begins the Mohawk territory at the time of the Peacemaker about 1,000 years ago (some say). Continuing west are the Oneidas, then Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. This is always the way the names should be recited, following the path of the sun across the sky from east to west.

We also think of our Confederacy of Nations as one big Longhouse, hence the translated name, People of the Longhouse, one people united together under one roof and one way of life. The Mohawks are the Keepers of the Eastern Door while the Senecas are the Keepers of the Western Door. These are defensive and diplomatic positions for both the Mohawks and Senecas. The center symbol on the Hiawatha Belt shows what many interpret as a tree, a fire, or a heart. All are true. The Onondagas are responsible for keeping our Council Fire burning at all times, to keep life in our Confederacy, to keep the blood flowing, like a heart would. Onondaga is the "capital" of the Confederacy, with Tadadaho assuming the highest position of responsibility ensuring there is always a place for the Grand Council of the Five Nations to meet. He will also keep watch that the Confederacy as a whole is keeping to the Great Peace. When the Great Peace was established the leaders used the symbolic words that we stood up a Great White Pine Tree and buried all the weapons of war beneath it. All the people of the Five Nations could stand beneath this tree in protection, peace, and with a good mind. The White Roots of the Tree would travel in all four directions so that any person of any Nation could follow these Roots to their source (the Iroquois Confederacy / Haudenosaunee) with honest desire and find protection, peace, and our way of life.

Looking at the Hiawatha Belt, it should be orientated so that the Onondaga Nation's shape in the center of the belt would resemble a tree with the trunk at the bottom and the tree pointing upward. The white wampum beads, representing peace, bind all Five Nations together in strength with one good mind, one way of life. The beads continue east and west from the Mohawk and Seneca Nations respectively showing our openness to other Nations.

The founding principles of the Haudenosaunee are Skennen (Peace), Kasathstensera (Strength/Power in a unifying sense), and Kanikonriio (the Good Mind). The Peacemaker worked for many years using these principles among our people. Being Haudenosaunee: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca is a privilege and chosen way of life through Longhouse teachings as given to us by our Creator. Whether each of us has always been Longhouse, or Traditional, or are just now opening up our lives to Longhouse ways, we can hold to our founding principles in our daily lives and we will always have protection and a home as given to us by our Creator and sustained by the beings and elements around us.