Donehogawah War Belt

This belt was formerly held by Donehogawah or General Ely S. Parker. It means "Five Council Fires" or "Death Belt" of the five Iroquois Nations, the Confederacy of the Iroquois. The Death Belts were in the custody of The Keepers of the East and West Door of the Haudenosaunee. This one was always held by the Donehogawah, the Keeper of the Western Door, the watcher and army guard of the Confederacy. (The Mohawks of the Eastern Door likewise had their copy of this particular belt.) This belt signified death or war against some other nation or nations. When it was sent to the east Door, the Mohawk Council, it was held and passed on to the Council of War of each of the nations, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, until returned by the Mohawks, which signaled that war must begin at once. It represented death or extermination, or adoption by the Iroquois after conquest, whichever was decided on. It was painted with red paint on its journey through the nations. The Tonawanda Senecas were the last to hold this particular belt. At the Condolence Council of General Parker, another Donehogawah Chief was raised as the successor of General Parker.

The five open hexagons represent the Five Nations. The three white wampum lines at the ends of the belt represent the three warnings that were always given a hostile or an enemy nation to cease warfare and obey the Laws of The Great Peace. After the third warning had been ignored, the combined Iroquois attacked the enemy people but only after they had given three chances to change their minds or hearts. If a War Belt was returned by a nation with a string of white wampum, it meant that the nation who had sent the belt back did not want to take part.

A nation could carry on a war of its own if it wished, but this did not happen often. A general war could be determined only by the Grand Council at Onondaga, and all must consent to such a war. It had to be unanimous.

It is provided thus: Skanawati shall be vested with a double office duty and with double authority. One half of this being shall hold the statesman title, and the other shall hold the title of War Chief. In the event of war, he shall notify the five War Chiefs of the League and he will command them to prepare for war, to have their men ready at the appointed time and place for engagement with the enemy of the Great Peace.

It is provided thus: When the Council of the League has for its objective the establishment of The Great Peace among the people of an outside nation and that nation refuses to accept the Great Peace, then by such refusal they bring a declaration of war upon themselves from the Five nations. Then shall the Five Nations seek to establish the Great Peace by conquest of the rebellious nation.