Questions from the Iroquois

1a.) The five nations confederate lords plant the tree with Dekanawidah.

1b.) The purpose of the meeting is to lay down the law and make it so everyone, including tribes who want to join their confederate, know the rules.

2a.) Dekanawidah is talking to Adodarhoh, who is the chief confederate lord of the Onondaga.

2b.) Dekanawidah refers to the assembled lards as "cousins", not because they are all really cousins, but because they are all together under the same confederate.

3a.) A candidate lord must furnish four strings of shells, one span in length bound together at the end to show his pledge. This pledge symbolizes the candidate's honesty, that he will follow all of the laws, and exercise justice in all affairs.

3b.) A leader should cannot get upset about things, like offensice actions and criticism easily, they must be much tougher because now they are a mentor of the people. They cannot have anger or fury. The people of the nation and their welfare come before yourselves. They have to have endless patience, and self interest will be cast into obliviation. The leader can't only think of the present generation, but the future aswell.

4a.) In this ritual Dekanawidah incorparates nature by planting the Tree of the Great Peace,spreading soft globe thistle on the lords seats, crowning the leader with the sacred emblem of deer's antlers, and that the lords will offer thanks to the earth, streams, pools, springs, lakes, maize, fruits, medicinal herbs, trees, and forest trees.

4b.) They were very close to nature in everything that they did. In this passage they say things that give me the impression that they are close to nature like Dekanawidah plants a tree, and a new leader is crowned with "The sacred emblem of the deer's antlers".

5a.) I believe the values and moral code described in the Iroquois Constitution are appropriate for the members and leaders of a government. I agree that a leader, like stated in the constitution, needs to be patient, selfless, controlled, think highly of the welfare of their people, and not just consider the now generation but also the future. I believe the need to work together like cousins and anyone who want to join the confederate must follow the rules as well.