John Buck (Onondaga politician) facts for kids
John Buck (born around 1818, died 1893) was an important leader of the Onondaga people. He was also known by his Onondaga name, Skanawati. John Buck lived near the Grand River in Ontario, Canada. He held a very special role as the official keeper of the wampum records for the Iroquois Confederacy. This role was sometimes called a "firekeeper." He took on this important job in 1843. People at the time described Buck as a "capable ruler" and a "trustworthy negotiator." He was also a follower of the teachings of Handsome Lake.
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John Buck's Life and Role
John Buck was born around 1818. An obituary, which is a notice about someone's death, said he came from a long line of "ancient Iroquois nobility." This means his family had been important leaders for many generations.
Keeper of Wampum Belts
In 1843, John Buck became the official keeper of the wampum records. Wampum belts are special strings or belts made of beads. These beads were made from shells. For the Iroquois, wampum belts were not just pretty objects. They were used to record important events, treaties, laws, and stories. As the wampum keeper, John Buck was responsible for remembering and sharing these important historical records. He was known as a "conservative" leader. This means he strongly believed in following the traditional customs and ways of his people.
Preserving Iroquois Culture
Even though John Buck did not speak English, he spent a lot of time talking with English-speaking historians. He shared his vast knowledge of Iroquois history and culture. He did this to help make sure that the traditions and stories of his people would be remembered and passed down. Scholars, like J. N. B. Hewitt, learned a lot from John Buck's deep understanding of his community's past.
Working with the Government
In June 1887, John Buck and other Iroquois leaders asked the Canadian government to change a law. This law was called the Franchise Act of 1885. It had given some Indigenous groups, including the Onondaga, the right to vote. However, many traditional leaders like Buck felt this law interfered with their own ways of governing themselves.
John Buck was also friends with Horatio Hale, a well-known scholar who studied Indigenous languages and cultures. Sadly, John Buck passed away in 1893 when he was about 75 years old. After he died, his children sold some of the wampum belts that he had cared for.
