Tree of Peace facts for kids
The Iroquois Tree of Peace is a powerful symbol that started with a wise man named Dekanawida. He was known as the "peace-giver." Legends say that Dekanawida helped create the Five Nations Confederacy, a strong alliance of five Native American nations: the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. This group is also known as the Haudenosaunee. Dekanawida is seen as a great hero to the Haudenosaunee people. Their confederacy was officially called Kayanerenh-kowa, which means "the Great Peace." It was also known as Kanonsionni, or "the Long-House," which described both its large area and how it was set up. The stories about Dekanawida come from the oral histories, which are traditions passed down by word of mouth through many Native American tribes over time.
What is the Tree of Peace?
The idea of the Tree of Peace is very important to the Haudenosaunee people, and it is closely linked to Dekanawida. As he traveled to unite the nations that were fighting, Dekanawida spoke only about peace, friendship, and working together. It was hard for some to understand him because he loved peace more than war. The Great Peace that Dekanawida brought had three main parts:
- The Good Word: This means doing what is right and fair for everyone.
- Health: This means having a healthy mind and body, which brings peace to the world.
- Power: This means setting up a good government that helps people grow spiritually, following the will of the Master of Life.
The Symbol of Unity
Dekanawida chose a special symbol for the newly formed Five Nations: the great white pine tree. He called it "the tree of the Great Long Leaves." This tree became the symbol of their new peace and unity.
The tree had four symbolic roots, the Great White Roots of Peace, spreading north, east, south, and west. If any other nation ever wished to join the League, it would have to follow the White Roots of Peace to the source and take shelter beneath the tree. Atop the tree, he placed an eagle to scream out a warning at the approach of danger. He symbolically planted the tree in the land of the Onondagas, the place where the confederate lords, or peace chiefs, would sit beneath it and be caretakers of the Great Peace.
This Tree of Peace became a symbol of strength and lasting leadership for the chiefs. It meant that their leadership would continue forever, as their titles would be passed down to new leaders. This way, the League of Nations would always stay strong.
The Tree of Peace Today
The Tree of Peace started with the creation of the League of Five Nations, but it remains a vital part of Haudenosaunee culture even today. It is a key symbol of peace in Iroquois traditions and in their history of working with other groups.
A tradition connected to the Tree of Peace is burying weapons under a tree to seal a peace agreement. Sometimes, a tree would even be pulled up to make a space for the weapons. Then, the tree would be replanted on top, becoming a new Tree of Peace. This idea of creating a new Tree of Peace comes from Dekanawida's first ceremony for the original Tree of Peace. The roots of this tree are said to spread in all directions, guiding future generations to find their own peace and continue the path created by their ancestors.
The transformation of these historical events into sacred stories shows how important they became to the Iroquois. The exact details were not as important as showing that their confederacy was real and that their ancestors had done something very meaningful for them. By creating unity and keeping their nation strong, their ancestors gave the people of the Extended Lodge a purpose and a way of life that would last forever.
The white pine tree's unique bundles of five needles became a symbol of the Five Nations joined together as one. According to Haudenosaunee tradition, the Great Law of Peace ended old conflicts and brought the separate tribes together into the Iroquois Confederacy. This made them the most powerful force in North America until European settlers expanded rapidly in the 1700s.
See also
In Spanish: Árbol de paz (iroqués) para niños
