History of the Haudenosaunee

In this episode, we explore the history of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, a powerful alliance of Indigenous nations rooted in the Great Law of Peace and originally centered south of the Great Lakes. We examine the Confederacy’s matrilineal social structure, longhouse communities, agricultural traditions, and diplomatic strength as its nations navigated the Beaver Wars and shifting alliances with French and British powers. The episode also follows the challenges brought by the American Revolution, including internal divisions, displacement, and migration, before turning to the modern era of political activism, military service, land rights struggles, and efforts to preserve Haudenosaunee sovereignty, culture, and traditional practices.