Indian Influences - Origin of Equality

Native Lesson in Democracy: Rarely will one witnessIndian women provided a model of female
an elementary student stand in front of his or herindependence and power, while still in balance with
classmates and credit Native American influence in thecommunal reliance, collective responsibilities, and family
founding ideals of our government or constitution. Whyties. It was our late Native mothers who possessed
should any student do such, when our curriculumsthe freedoms our white mothers were denied.
clearly ignore historical truths of Indian Influences inIndian women have said, "As an Indian woman I was
order to protect our "comfort" in knowing our whitefree. I owned by home, my person, the work of my
forefathers and their incredible vision was born ofown hands, and my children could never forget me. I
white experience and education, and certainly not ofwas better as an Indian woman than under white law..."
observations of Native American societies and ideals.Indian men have said (in regards to white laws), "Your
After all, categorization of Indian Peoples in thelaws show how little your men care for their women
Euro-American world was that of inferior and(5)." - Alice Fletcher, Ethnographer and noted suffragist.
uneducated populations, with nothing more to offer aOur Native mothers owned property - her home and
young United States than lands, or so this is what mostfurnishing, and her garden and produce. She controlled
Americans learn today.the food supply. Her property was to do with as she
And yet, democratic governments were not apleased, and needed no male authority for receiving
carryover from Europe, and nothing more than aproperty or disposing of it. She had the right to vote
Greek hypothetical that our educated forefathers onlyand be represented in her government by a women's
read about, in other words, a fairytale. It was Nativecouncil, and elect a spokesperson. She had the right to
American communities, the most famous being theask for war or peace, to voice her opinions as any
Iroquois, who actually provided a practicing model ofman would under the same conditions, and never be
democracy for Europeans looking for representation indisrespected in any manner, as being a woman was
government, social power, and equality.honorable in itself. She had the right to divorce, and she
"It would be a very strange thing if six nations ofknew her children would never be taken away from
ignorant savages should be able t form a scheme forher. She was a person with individual rights, and never
such a union and be able to execute it in such athe property of her father or husband, or a "thing." to
manner as it has subsisted for ages and appearsbe owned and transacted. Native women were full
indissoluble and yet a like union should be impracticalcitizens with protected freedoms as any man. These
for ten or a dozen English colonies (1)." - Benjaminrights of most Native women in the Northeast were all
Franklin to James Parker, 1751.unknown to Euro-American women of the same
It was the Iroquois who exemplified democracy at itsperiod, only fueling the drive of women's rights
greatest: a democracy created before Europeansympathizers and giving them a basis to argue current
contact, a democracy with representation andwomen's issues.
systems of voting, a democracy with checks andIllustrating History: An Indian Woman Gives Her Horse
balances, a democracy that practiced universal humanAway - The Indian "wife is as independent in the use
rights and autonomy for all including women, and evenof her possessions as is the most independent man in
adopted captives. Our Forefathers had to look noour midst. If she chooses to give away or sell all her
further than their Native neighbors to witness a civilizedproperty, there is no one to gainsay her...When I was
government that answered the needs of colonistsliving with the Indians, my hostess...one day gave away
tired of Monarchy.a very fine horse. I was surprised, for I knew there had
"Our wise forefathers established union and amitybeen no family talk on the subject, so I asked: "Will
between the Five Nations." "We are a powerfulyour husband like to have you give the horse away?"
Confederacy, and by your observing the sameHer eyes danced, and, breaking into a peal of laughter,
methods our wise forefathers have taken, you willshe hastened to tell the story to the other women
acquire much strength and power; therefore, whatevergathered in the tent, and I became the target of merry
befalls you, do not fall out with one another (2)."eyes. I tried to explain how white women would act,
-Canassatego (Iroquois Spokesman to Colonistbut laughter and contempt met my explanation of the
Delegates at Lancaster PA, 1744.)white man's hold upon his wife's property (6)."
"...the advice that was given about thirty years ago by-Alice Fletcher, Recounting Her Observations at the
your wise forefathers, in a great council that was heldInternational Council of Women in 1888.
at Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, when CanassategoFurther than just property rights and representation in
spoke to us, the white people..." "Brothers, ourgovernment, the important fact was that these Indian
forefathers rejoiced to hear Canassatego speakwomen had equal status and human rights, a large
these words. They sank deep into our hearts. Thereflection on the social attitude of women and the
advice was good. It was kind. They said to onefemale realm, which was obviously very positive in the
another: The Six Nations are a wise people. Let usNative worldview. This only highlighted the faults of the
hearken to them, and take their counsel, and teach ourso-called "equality" based American society, including
children to follow it...(3)" -Colonial Commissioner tothe unchecked treatment of American women by
Iroquois Leaders in Philadelphia, 1775.men, or lack of laws protecting women from attack
In fact, Native American life-ways may also be partiallyand abuse, especially within their own household.
responsible for colonists craving independence fromWe almost see no physical abuse and other forms of
England. Almost no Euro-American witness ofviolation of Indian women by Indian men before
Woodland Indian societies could deny a moreEuropean influences. According to Native Peoples,
rewarding way of life with freedom and equality, whichmisogyny (hatred of women) was more than rare, it
was not enjoyed by themselves under their currentwas almost non-existent. The thought of what white
white laws. This could have been quite possibly themen were able to get away with toward white
seed of American Independence, or at least the waterwomen, or the fact that there were those who would
that nourished the movement.abuse women to begin with, was absolutely horrifying
"I am convinced that these societies of Indians enjoy into both Native men and women, and became a
their general mass an infinitely greater degree ofreason for some Native populations to reject both the
happiness than those who live under Europeanintroduction of Westernization and Christianity, which
governments (4)." - Thomas Jefferson to Edwardthey associated with this behavior. However, most
Carrington, 1787.could not fit it off long enough, and Indian Peoples fell
100th Congression, 1st Sessionvictim to the white "gender hierarchy," and Woodland
S. Con. Res.76Indian women began losing their status of equality
In the Senate of the United Statesduring much of the historic period.
September 16, 1987"...my women, they to whom we owe everything, what
Concurrent Resolutionis there for them to do? I see nothing! You are a
To acknowledge the contribution of the Iroquoiswoman; have pity on my women when everything is
Confederacy of Nations to the development of thetaken from them (7)." -Indian Man to Alice Fletcher, in
United States Constitution..."Regards to Indian Women Losing Their Livelihoods and
Whereas the original framers of the Constitution,Status
including most notably, George Washington andSuggested Books and Further Reading:
Benjamin Franklin, are known to have greatly admiredIroquois Women: An Anthology
the concepts, principles and governmental practices ofParker on the Iroquois: The Constitution of the Five
the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy..."Nations
Whereas the confederation of the original ThirteenIroquois Culture and Commentary
Colonies into one republic was explicitly modeled uponIndian Roots of American Democracy
the Iroquois Confederacy as were many of theForgotten Founders: Benjamin Franklin, the Iroquois and
democratic principles which were incorporated into thethe Rationale for the American Revolution
Constitution itself;..."Direct Quotes in This Article:
Resolved by the Senate (the House of(1) Johansen, Bruce. Forgotten Founders: Benjamin
Representatives concurring) That- 1) the Congress, onFranklin, the Iroquois and the Rationale for the
the occasion of the two hundredth anniversary of theAmerican Revolution. 1982, p. 56.
signing of the United States Constitution, acknowledges(2) Barreiro, Jose, Indian Roots of American
the historical debt which the Republic of the UnitedDemocracy, Article: "Indian Thought Was Often In
States owes to the Iroquois Confederacy and otherTheir Minds." By Bruce Johansen, 1988, p. 41.
Indian Nations for their demonstration of enlightened,(3) ibid p. 42
democratic principles of Government..."(4) ibid p. 42
(From Indian Roots of American Democracy published(5) Spittal, W.G. Iroquois Women: An Anthology. Article:
by the Northeast Indian Quarterly, 1988, pages 74-75)"The Root of Oppression Is the Loss of Memory: The
Native Lesson: Women's Rights. The Women'sIroquois and the Early Feminist Vision." By Sally Roesch
Suffrage Movement owes part of its victory to NativeWagner, Ph.D. 1996, p. 225.
influences. In a time when Euro-American women had(6) ibid p. 225
less rights in her home and her government, and(7) ibid p.
forced to be dependent on male relations, Woodland