Publisher's Synopsis
This story is virtually unknown among all the peoples of the world.Having lived among the Haudenosaunee for 20 years, I discovered a rich and proud heritage that excited the imagination in me as well as the highest values for living. It is a story of Peace, a story of reconciliation, a story of healing. I am an artist, not a writer, nor a historian. The visual impact of these stories possessed me, while the stories taught universal truths. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know- and share. Few know these stories. This story is unknown outside of Native American circles. It is an oral tradition only partially recorded by early ethnographers and anthropologists. Because of the general lack of knowledge concerning this important story, little pieces of a great story have become a narrative of an entire epic adventure that I have brought to life through my art. This story is timelyI fell in love with the rich tapestry of tales that originated somewhere in the distant past in actual history that when woven together, embody teachings that are timeless. With those teachings came the compelling notion of creating a world at peace. The displaced native peoples of the Americas need to be acknowledged, as the remarkable people they have always been. It is time to give recognition of their unique and insightful world view, which will aid in our understanding of each other and lead us to that elusive world peace. Creation StoriesOrigin stories of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) give the basis for their understanding of the world and their relationship to that world. The litany covers the Beginning of Time until the Earth is finished.. These stories lay a foundation for our interaction with the Earth, and all her children, and bring forth Earth Wisdom that has been lost by our present day civilization, reminding us of the balance of energies, good and bad, day and night, male and female, and the power of our emotions as a force in Creation. Epoch of the PeacemakersAlthough Great Mystery provided all things that would ever be needed on the Earth, there came a time when the people forgot their purpose on earth and the instructions that they had been given. This set the scene for a virgin born messenger, a Great Messenger whose purpose was to bring forth a comprehensive understanding of Peace. He meets Hayehwatha, whose emotional and mental healing prepares the way for him to be the Peacemaker's spokesperson. A third person, a woman, carries the balance of the Law. Known as Jikohnsaseh, the Lynx, she was the last living descendant of Sky Woman, the first person on Earth. She was an honored woman or Yagowaneh among the people. She brought enemies together, and through wisdom and fairness, and her great love for the people, they would leave as brothers. She negotiated treaties. Her word was Law.The Journey tells challenges faced and overcome together, to create unity among all nations through the Great Law. A journey, which when completed, made a significant contribution to the development of democratic ideas through our constitution and all constitutions patterned from it around the world.AuthentificationAssembly of this project was started under the direction of Faithkeeper Richard White, Speaker of the Seneca Cayuga of Oklahoma, in 2002, when it was first presented at the World's Olympics in Salt Lake City. Richard has since passed away. Since that time, many Faithkeepers, historians, and clan mothers, have assisted with stories, some of which have been added, and some of which are in reserve for future projects. End GoalAlthough these stories are ancient, they bear semblance to the problems and solutions of today. These stories are exemplary reminders of what we inherently know within us and to what we must return to if we are to love one another and live together in Peace.
