Both a narrative and a constitution, the
Great Law of Peace
established the governance system of the Iroquois Confederacy. Its powerful themes of justice, cooperation, grief, health, and peace continue to inspire today.
An oral constitution, the
was recorded on wampum belts and ratified by the Haudenosaunee (comprised of the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and later, the Tuscarora peoples) long before European settlers arrived in America. Cultural heroes Haiwatha and the Great Peacemaker, Deganawida, are credited with creating the
. It begins with a folklore-filled history of the Iroquois peoples dating back nearly a millennium. The constitution portion of the
institutes a federalist democracy with separation of powers, a bicameral legislature, equal rights for women, and many other notable attributes. The
ends with descriptions of ceremonies such as funerals and appointing new chiefs.
The
is known to have influenced Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and other framers of the United States Constitution. In 1988, Congress passed a concurrent resolution that officially acknowledged the "contribution of the Iroquois Confederacy of Nations to the Development of the United States Constitution."
This handsome hardcover edition of the
is the perfect gift for anyone interested in indigenous law, United States history, and the creation of a more harmonious, just society.