The Divided Ground: Indigenous Sovereignty and the Agony of the American Revolution

Most American Revolutionary histories focus on the battle between the colonists and the British. While colonial leaders admired Haudenosaunee governing structure and diplomatic skills, they also feared Haudenosaunee power and coveted Haudenosaunee territory. The colonists aimed their largest military campaign –not at the British – but at the Haudenosaunee right here in what is now called Central New York. This presentation will provide the Haudenosaunee perspective on the American Revolution -- the nature of the Haudenosaunee Alliance, history of treaty making, impact of the Clinton-Sullivan Campaign on the Haudenosaunee peoples, the illegal taking of land through the Military Tract, the relationship of wampum to the United States Constitution, and challenges to maintain sovereignty.

Jake Haiwhagai’i Edwards, Onondaga Eel Clan, lives on the Onondaga Nation Territory and maintains the continuity of the Longhouse oral teachings. Jake was appointed by the Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy to the Haudenosaunee External Relations Committee to respectfully work on political and governmental structures beyond the borders of Haudenosaunee Country. This work includes diplomatic work at the United Nations and other entities outside the Confederacy. Jake was one of the primary voices leading the 400th anniversary (1613 – 2013) of the Two Row Wampum Campaign. He is a board member of the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples and a board member of the Indigenous Values Initiative. This event is free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required.