Unveiling The Significance Of The Great Law Of Iroquois League

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Unveiling the Significance of the Great Law of the Iroquois League. This paper aims to explore the Indigenous histories of Abya Yala and Turtle Island by examining the primary source, the “Great Law of the Iroquois League”. The construction of this foundational document from c.1300 through oral tradition, was to address the ‘suffering of constant warfare’ among the members of the Iroquois Confederacy, and establish unity and harmony among the Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee–the Cayugas, Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, and Senecas. The analysis of this source also engages with the perceptions of the secondary source “The Ordeal of the Longhouse”, an analysis by Daniel Richter that reconstructs the histories of Indigenous people. In this essay, I argue that the “Great Law of the Iroquois League” …show more content…

Cultural preservation and transmitted spiritual beliefs are fostered through the oral traditions and ceremonial practices that have been passed down through generations within the Iroquois Confederacy. This is outlined in the ceremonial practice of communal feasts with the Lords of the Confederacy. This rule within the Iroquois Nations, law fifty-seven, holds symbolic significance representing commitment to peace, respect, and the strengthening of bonds among the members. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy reflects strong diplomatic relations through their priority of reaffirming unity and commitment to the Great Binding Law. They guarantee this by means of a quinquennial assembly to assess collective commitments and ensure continued consensus among all members. As the Haudenosaunee Confederacy maintains their cultural identity and diplomatic relations through the fundamentals of the Great Law of the Iroquois League, Richter’s analysis illustrates the dynamics and history surrounding their societal