Tree of Peace Society facts for kids
The Tree of Peace Society is a group that started in 1984. It became an official organization in New York State in 1994. Its main office is on the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation in Hogansburg, New York. This area is near the St. Lawrence River and borders Quebec and Ontario, Canada.
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What is the Tree of Peace Society?
Since 1984, members of the society, led by founder Chief Jake Swamp, have planted trees in important public places. For example, they planted a tree near Philadelphia's Constitution Hall in 1986. They also planted one at California State University, Sacramento, California, in April 1986. The group's website explains the old Native American story behind their work.
The Great Tree of Peace Story
The story of the Great Tree of Peace comes from the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. Over a thousand years ago, a leader called the Peacemaker, also known as Aiionwatha (Hiawatha), brought the Great Law of Peace (Kaianerekowa) to different Native American nations. These nations were fighting in what is now New York State.
The Peacemaker's message was about Peace, Power, and a Good Mind. This message led to the creation of the Haudenosaunee Iroquois Confederacy. This group of nations included the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. Later, the Tuscarora nation also joined.
These nations were told to bury their weapons of war under the Great Tree of Peace. They were also told to unite as one to protect the Great Law of Peace. By joining together, they would make sure the Tree of Peace would never fall.
Why Trees of Peace Are Planted
The website Past is Prologue explains more about why the group plants Trees of Peace. Chief Jake Swamp of the Mohawk Nation, who helped lead the Tree of Peace Society, traveled around the world planting these trees. He even planted one on the Smithsonian Mall during the American Bicentennial celebration. This was done to honor how the Iroquois Great Law of Peace influenced the U.S. Constitution.
How Tree Planting Ceremonies Work
Traditional ceremonies like these are very special. They cannot be exactly copied by people who are not Iroquois. However, there are suggestions for similar ceremonies. A group can be called together with music. If a Native American drumming group is available, that would be fitting. People can form a circle around the tree. Readings could include parts from "The Great Tree of Peace."
During the ceremony, two items can be buried under the tree's roots. These items symbolize national unity and peace. In the original ceremony, weapons of war were buried. Another book by the author of "Three Strands in the Braid" shows Benjamin Franklin sitting under a Tree of Peace. He is shown talking with a chief from the Iroquois Grand Council.
