Tree of Peace Society facts for kids

The Tree of Peace Society was started in 1984. It became an official non-profit 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 borders of Quebec and Ontario, Canada, along the St. Lawrence River. The term "foreign" in its legal name is just a formality because of tribal sovereignty, which means Native American tribes have their own governments.

Iroquois dancer at the New York State Fair in 2008. The Tree of Peace Society follows old beliefs of the Six Nations tribes, linked to Hiawatha and the sacred Tree of Peace shown in the background.

What is the Tree of Peace Society?

Since 1984, members of the society, led by its 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 Shasta Hall, California State University, Sacramento, California, on April 10, 1986. The group's official website explains the ancient Native American story behind their work.

The Ancient Story of the Great Tree of Peace

The Great Tree of Peace [of the] Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy -- Over a thousand years ago, a special leader called the Peacemaker, along with Aiionwatha (Hiawatha), brought the Great Law of Peace (Kaianerekowa) to the Native American nations who were fighting in what is now New York State. This message of Peace, Power, and a Good Mind led to the creation of the Haudenosaunee Iroquois Confederacy. This group of nations included the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. Later, the Tuscarora also joined. These nations were told to bury their weapons of war under the Great Tree of Peace. They were to unite as one to support the Great Law of Peace, joining together so that the Tree of Peace would never fall.

The Haudenosaunee flag, created in the 1980s. It is based on the Hiawatha wampum belt, which was made centuries ago to show the union of former enemies who buried their weapons under the Great Tree of Peace. The tree symbol in the middle is an Eastern White Pine, with needles grouped in fives, representing the original five nations that were united.

How are Trees of Peace Planted?

Chief Jake Swamp of the Mohawk Nation, who helped lead the Tree of Peace Society, traveled around the world planting Trees of Peace. He even planted one on the Smithsonian Mall during the Bicentennial celebration. This was done to honor how the Iroquois Great Law of Peace influenced the U.S. Constitution.

When a Tree of Peace is planted, a special ceremony often takes place. People might gather in a circle around the tree. Sometimes, Native American drumming is part of the ceremony. To symbolize national unity and peace, two items are chosen to be buried under the tree's roots. In the original ceremony, weapons of war were buried to show that fighting had ended.