Interdependence Day Festival -- July 10-12 2009 at the Boo
We are the people, the time is now!
The democratic tradition of America is great. But it did not begin in 1776. One of its greatest manifestations has been dated to around 1090 AD, over 100 years before the Magna Carta.
The League of Peace and Power brought together the nations of the Iroquois into a Great Confederacy which is still in existence today. The Great Peacemaker called the warring tribes together and taught that the welfare of the people was best served by unity of action as outlined in the Great Law of Peace. He had the chiefs bury their war hatchets in hole as a symbol for setting aside hostile ways for the benefit of unity of action, and over them he planted the Tree of Great Peace. Over the tree he placed an eagle to protect the unity, and in its talons it carried a clutch of arrows and branch from the tree. The arrows represented the power that comes from unity, as one arrow shaft can easily be broken but a clutch of arrows cannot. The branch represented “E Pluribus Unum”, “Out of Many, One“. We carry this symbol of the League of Peace and Power with us every day for it is the Great Seal of these United States of America and is on the back of a dollar bill.
He taught the people to gather in a magnificent long house, that was a metaphor for the Great Law, and there to resolve disputes and plan for the future. This long house was one of the models for the House of Representatives. Actions in the long house were governed by the 3 principal of the Great Law of Peace:
RIGHTEOUSNESS
In order to keep violence from interfering in the stability of the community, the people, clans, Chiefs, Clan Mothers and the entire nation must treat each other fairly. Such conduct will assure that political and social justice is maintained. Each individual must have a strong sense of justice, must treat people as equals and must enjoy equal protection under the Great Law. People must be willing to enforce a civil government to oversee that righteousness is enjoyed by all; must shape their own personal conduct so as not to foster resentment or hatred; and must be willing to use the power of reasonable thinking to overcome problems and arrive a mutually beneficial resolution.
HEALTH
Health means that the soundness of mind, body and spirit will create a strong individual. Health is also the peacefulness that results when a strong mind uses its rational power to promote well-being between peoples, between nations.
POWER
The laws of the Great Law provide authority, tradition and stability if properly respected in thought and action. Power comes from the united actions of the people operating under one law, with one mind, one heart, and one body. Such power can assure that justice and healthfulness continue. People and nations need to exercise just enough power to maintain the peace and well-being of the members of the Confederacy.
The League of Peace and Power brought together the nations of the Iroquois into a Great Confederacy which is still in existence today. The Great Peacemaker called the warring tribes together and taught that the welfare of the people was best served by unity of action as outlined in the Great Law of Peace. He had the chiefs bury their war hatchets in hole as a symbol for setting aside hostile ways for the benefit of unity of action, and over them he planted the Tree of Great Peace. Over the tree he placed an eagle to protect the unity, and in its talons it carried a clutch of arrows and branch from the tree. The arrows represented the power that comes from unity, as one arrow shaft can easily be broken but a clutch of arrows cannot. The branch represented “E Pluribus Unum”, “Out of Many, One“. We carry this symbol of the League of Peace and Power with us every day for it is the Great Seal of these United States of America and is on the back of a dollar bill.
He taught the people to gather in a magnificent long house, that was a metaphor for the Great Law, and there to resolve disputes and plan for the future. This long house was one of the models for the House of Representatives. Actions in the long house were governed by the 3 principal of the Great Law of Peace:
RIGHTEOUSNESS
In order to keep violence from interfering in the stability of the community, the people, clans, Chiefs, Clan Mothers and the entire nation must treat each other fairly. Such conduct will assure that political and social justice is maintained. Each individual must have a strong sense of justice, must treat people as equals and must enjoy equal protection under the Great Law. People must be willing to enforce a civil government to oversee that righteousness is enjoyed by all; must shape their own personal conduct so as not to foster resentment or hatred; and must be willing to use the power of reasonable thinking to overcome problems and arrive a mutually beneficial resolution.
HEALTH
Health means that the soundness of mind, body and spirit will create a strong individual. Health is also the peacefulness that results when a strong mind uses its rational power to promote well-being between peoples, between nations.
POWER
The laws of the Great Law provide authority, tradition and stability if properly respected in thought and action. Power comes from the united actions of the people operating under one law, with one mind, one heart, and one body. Such power can assure that justice and healthfulness continue. People and nations need to exercise just enough power to maintain the peace and well-being of the members of the Confederacy.
Tree of Great Peace
