A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Brother, we the Sachems of the Six Nations will now tell our minds. The business of this treaty is to brighten the Chain of Friendship between us and the fifteen fires.
- Red Jacket
The Canandaigua Treaty is a treaty between the United States of America and the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy - Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk and Tuscarora. It was signed in Canandaigua, New York on November 11, 1794 by sachems representing the Grand Council of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy and by Colonel Timothy Pickering who was the official agent of President George Washington. This treaty is sometimes called the “Pickering Treaty.”
The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Nations sent 1600 representatives to the treaty council - the Seneca sending an impressive 800 representatives. The United States sent both Colonel Timothy Pickering and General Isarael Chapin. It was General Israel Chapin who chose the treaty council site to be at Canandaigua, New York. Quaker representatives, led by William Savery of Philadelphia, also attended this treaty council. These Quaker mediators had been invited to the treaty negotiations by the Seneca people because Quakers were a trust-worthy, peaceful people who could read English and help to ensure fair negotiations.
The Canandaigua Treaty established peace and friendship between the young United States of America and the Six Nations. The Treaty also affirmed Haudenosaunee land rights - the Canandaigua Treaty restored to the Six Nations lands in western New York State that had been ceded by the Fort Stanwix Treaty. The Canandaigua Treaty also recognized the sovereignty of the Six Nations to govern and set laws as individual nations.
Some notable signatories of this treaty included Cornplanter (Seneca), Handsome Lake (Seneca), and Red Jacket (Seneca).
While the chain of friendship that embodies this treaty has been strained and there have been violations of the treaty, the treaty has never been broken and is still actively recognized by the Six Nations and the United States governments.
CANANDAIGUA TREATY DAY
NOVEMBER 11, 2010
10:30AM - 6PM
CANANDAIGUA PRIMARY SCHOOL, CANANDAIGUA, NY
ALL ACTIVITIES FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
NOVEMBER 11 SCHEDULE
10:30 a.m. -6:00 p.m., Native American Arts &Craft Sale
1:30 p.m., Parade from W. Gibson St. to Main St. Courthouse
2:00 p.m., Commemoration Ceremony. Front lawn of the Ontario County Court House, Main Street, Canandaigua, NY
4:30 p.m., Potluck Dinner (bring a dish to share)
6:00 p.m., Keynote Speakers, Auditorium
7-8:30 p.m., Iroquois Social Dancing, Gym
Unless specified, all activities take place at the Canandaigua Primary/Elementary School, 96 W. Gibson Street, Canandaigua, NY.
For more event information, please visit Ganondagan.org
COMMEMORATION OF 216th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CANANDAIGUA TREATY
Much has changed in the 216 years since the signing of the Canandaigua Treaty of 1794, but its commemoration of peace and friendship between the Six Nations Confederacy (Haudenosaunee) and the United States still is recognized today.
On Thursday, November 11, 2010, as has been the annual tradition, members of the Six Nations and the United States government gather on the front lawn of the courthouse in Canandaigua, New York to commemorate this seminal federal treaty.
This year, Ganondagan is honored to have secured Chief Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan of the Onondaga Nation, as the keynote speaker. Lyons, who sits on the Council of Chiefs of the Haudenosaunee, is recognized throughout the world as a human rights advocate, environmentalist, speaker, author, humanitarian multi-award winner, artist, professor, and all-American lacrosse player.
Also speaking will be Mohawk author Doug George.
In addition, the day’s events will be filmed to be included in a future exhibit on treaties at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC.
IN A LITANY OF BROKEN TREATIES, A SHINING EXCEPTION
Faithkeeper and Visionary Oren Lyons is Keynote Speaker at Commemoration of 216th Anniversary of the Canandaigua Treaty
Canandaigua, NY—Much has changed in the 216 years since the signing of the Canandaigua Treaty of 1794, but its commemoration of peace and friendship between the Six Nations Confederacy (Haudenosaunee) and the United States still is recognized today. On Thursday, November 11, 2010, as has been the annual tradition, members of the Six Nations and the United States government gather on the front lawn of the courthouse in Canandaigua, New York to commemorate this seminal federal treaty. This year, Ganondagan is honored to have secured Chief Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan of the Onondaga Nation, as the keynote speaker.
“We are thrilled to have Oren as our keynote speaker this year,” said Ganondagan Site Manager Peter Jemison. “Among the issues he will be addressing is the assertion of the rights of the Haudenosaunee to issue our own passports for international travel. This was at the heart of the most recent challenge faced by the Iroquois National Lacrosse team when they attempted to travel to England this past summer.” Lyons, who sits on the Council of Chiefs of the Haudenosaunee, is recognized throughout the world as a human rights advocate, environmentalist, speaker, author, humanitarian multi-award winner, artist, professor, and all-American lacrosse player. Also speaking will be Mohawk author Doug George. In addition, the day’s events will be filmed to be included in a future exhibit on treaties at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC.
The commemoration day begins at 1:30 pm with a parade led by Haudenosaunee Chiefs and United States officials beginning at the Canandaigua Primary School on W. Gibson Street to the Ontario County Courthouse on Main Street. At 2:00 pm, the traditional commemoration ceremony takes place on the front lawn of the Courthouse with Peter Jemison as master of ceremonies. Re-enactors in historical dress will be sprinkled throughout the crowd. As in 1794, treaty cloth will be presented by a United States
representative to the Six Nations, confirming the continuing existence of this venerable agreement. Quaker representatives also will be in attendance as they were at the original signing in their role as people of peace who could read English and help to ensure fair negotiations.
After the ceremony, attendees are encouraged to view one of the only two original copies of the treaty and pertinent letters at the Ontario County Historical Society. A 6’ x 9’ painting by artist Robert Griffing memorializing and capturing for posterity the Treaty signing scene from November 11, 1794 will be unveiled at 3:30 p.m. in the Canandaigua Primary School Auditorium with prints available for sale. Following the unveiling, a potluck dinner starts at 4:30 pm for all attendees—who are encouraged to bring a dish to share— culminating in keynote speeches by Oren Lyons and Doug George at 6:00 pm in the School Auditorium. Iroquois Social Dancing ends the day in the School Gym. All activities are free and open to the public. For more information, visit
The Canandaigua Treaty brought about peace between the Six Nations (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora) and the U.S., and was negotiated and signed by sachems representing the Grand Council of the Six Nations and Colonel Timothy Pickering, the official agent of George Washington. It also recognized the sovereignty of the Six Nations to govern and set laws as individual nations. This yearly commemoration is a time of rededication of the agreement, helping to ensure that the “chain of friendship” and agreements between nations remain current and vibrant.
This event is organized by the Friends of Ganondagan and is made possible by the collaboration of Canandaigua City School District, City of Canandaigua, and the Friends of Ganondagan; and sponsored by the Haudenosaunee Peace & Trade Committee, Mohawk Nation Council, Tonawanda Seneca Nation, and the Tuscarora Nation of Indians.
Reader Comments(0)