50 Chiefs

Submitted by Native North American Travelling College

In the early years of the Haudenosaunee there was a dark era, a time when our ancestors fought amongst one another. Our ancestors had forgotten all of the Creator’s instructions on how to live here on Mother Earth.

The Creator saw how the Onkwehonwe (the Original People) were treating each other and this was making him very upset. At this time the Creator sent a man being to be born with a specific set of instructions. Along with these instructions he gave him special abilities that were different from the rest of the man beings. This man is known as the Peacemaker. He was sent on a journey to help restore peace, strength and unity to the Haudenosaunee people.

The Peacemaker brought with him a democracy known as the Great Law of Peace that changed our ancestors’ life ways. The Peacemaker’s teachings are still practiced to this day. Through the Great Law a chieftainship was born and the Five Nations were brought together.

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy consists of Five Nations of the Onkwehonwe and they are; Mohawk (People of the Flint, Elder Brother and Keepers of the Eastern Door) with 9 Roiane or Chiefs, Oneida (People of the Standing Stone and Younger Brother) with 9 Roiane, Onondaga (Fire Keepers and Elder Brother) with 14 Roiane, Cayuga (People of the Great Swamp and Younger Brother) with 10 Roiane, and Seneca (People of the Great Hill, Elder Brother and (Keepers of the Western Door) with 8 Roiane. In early 1700’s, the

Cayuga Nation brought in the Tuscaroras making them the sixth Nation to join the Confederacy.

The leadership of this newly formed Confederacy was given specific titles and duties. Some Nations have three title names to a clan, while other Nations have one and two title names to their clans.

KANIENKE:HAKA NATION: MOHAWK

Three Turtle Clans:

Tekariho:ken

Aienhwa:tha

Sha’tekari:wateh

Three Wolf Clans:

Sharenho:waneh

Teionhekwa

Ohrenre’ko:wa

Three Bear Clans:

Tehana’kari:neh

Rohsta’wenseron:tha

Shohskoharo:waneh

ONYOTAA: KA NATION: ONEIDA

Three Wolf Clan:

Rotatshehte

Kanonhkwenio:ton

Teiohakwen:the

Three Turtle Clan:

Shononhses

Tehonareken:’a

Akia’tonnentha

Three Bear Clan:

Tewatahonhten:ion

Ronia’tahsa:;on

Ronwatshatentha

ONONTA’KEHA:KA NATION: ONONDAGA

Atotarhoh

Two Beaver Clan:

Awennisera

Tehatkathos

One Small Plover (Snipe) Clan:

Ia’tatsi:wak

One Sharpened-Skinned (Ball) Hawk Clan:

Aweken:hiat

Two Turtle Clan:

Tehaiatkwa:ri

Skana:wati

One Wolf Clan:

Ononwirehton

Two Deer Clan:

Owenniseron:ni

Arirhonh

Three Eel Clan:

Oweionnien:ni

Shotekwa:she

Shakokenhe

Two Turtle Clan:

Ra’sheraha:hon

Skana:wait

KAIONKWEN:HAKA NATION: CAYUGA

Two Deer Clan:

Teka’en:ionk

Katsi’nontawerhon

Three Turtle Clan:

Katarakwa:son

Shoion:wes

Wakia’seron:ne

Three Wolf Clan:

Teioronhion:ko

Teiothorehkwen

Teiohonwe:thon

Two snipe Clan:

Hatontahe’ha

Teska’he

ONONTOWAKA NATION: SENECA

Two Turtle Clan:

Skaniatari:io

Kahno:kari

Three Snipe Clan:

Sha’tekaron:ies

Nihsaie:na

Kanonhkeri:tawih

One Hawk Clan:

Shaken’tsio:waneh

One Bear Clan:

Shatsienawats

One Wolf Clan:

Teiohninhohakara:wen

These titles are permanent settings. If a chief passes away then it is important that the title or seat be filled after three days following the death of the chief. Men are watched closely from when they are boys by the women of the clan. They are being observed for character, honesty, morals and the ability to handle any situation.