Volume 16 , Issue 42

Iroquois Confederacy of Nations & U.S. Constitution

Did you know that the foundation of the United States Constitution comes from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy?

When you were in school, did any of your history teachers ever mention the contribution of the Iroquois Confederacy of Nations to the development of the U.S. Constitution?

Most of us remember as American students we were taught that democracy was invented by our Founding Fathers, who adapted it from Ancient Greece. but this is thought to be a myth as foolish as Columbus discovering America. The U. S. Senate even passed a Resolution in 1987 finally acknowledging that "the confederation of the original thirteen colonies into one republic was influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy, as were many of the democratic principles which were incorporated into the constitution itself."

It was passed by the 100th Congress, 2d session, H. Con. Res. 331. In the Senate of the United States, October 5 (legislative day, September 26), 1988, received and referred to the Select Committee on Indian Affairs. October 21 (legislative day, October 18), 1988, Committee discharged.

Concurrent Resolution (H. Con. Res. 331, 1988)

"To acknowledge the contribution of the Iroquois Confederacy of Nations to the development of the United States constitution and to reaffirm the continuing government-to-government relationship between Indian tribes and the United States established in the Constitution.

"Whereas the confederation of the original Thirteen Colonies into one republic was influenced by the political system of developed by the Iroquois Confederacy as were many of the democratic principles which were incorporated into the Constitution itself; and

"Whereas, since the formation of the United Staes, the Congress has recognized the sovereign status of Indian tribes and has, through the exercise of powers reserved to the Federal Government in the Commerce Clause of the Constitution (art. I, s.2, cl. 3), dealt with Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis and has, through the treaty clause (art. II, s.2, cl. 2) entered into three hundred and seventy treaties with Indian tribal Nations;

"Whereas, from the first treaty entered into with an Indian Nation, the treaty with the Delaware Indians of September 17, 1778, the Congress has assumed a trust responsibility and obligation to Indian tribes and their members;

"Whereas this trust responsibility calls for Congress to 'exercise the utmost good faith in dealings with Indians' as provided for in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, (1 Stat. 50);

"Whereas the judicial system of the Untied States has consistently recognized and reaffirmed this special relationship: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That --

(1) the Congress, on the occasion of the two hundredth anniversary of the signing of the Untied States Constitution, acknowledges the contribution made by the Iroquois Confederacy and other Indian Nations to the formation and development of the United States;

(2) The Congress also hereby reaffirms the constitutionally recognized government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes which has been the cornerstone of this Nation's official Indian policy;

(3) the Congress specifically acknowledges and reaffirms the trust responsibility and obligation of the United States Government to Indian tribes, including Alaska Natives, for their preservation, protection, and enhancement, including the provision of health, education, social and economic assistance programs as necessary, and including the duty to assist tribes in their performance of governmental responsibility to provide for the social and economic well-being of their members and to preserve tribal cultural identity and heritage; and

(4) the Congress also acknowledges the need to exercise the utmost good faith in upholding its treaties with the various tribes, as the tribes understood them to be, and the duty of a Great Nation to uphold its legal and moral obligations for the benefit of all of its citizens so that they and their posterity may also continue to enjoy the rights they have enshrined in the United States Constitution for time immemorial.

Passed the House of Representative October 4, 1988.
Attest: Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk
  |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---