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Jigonhsasee (alternately spelled Jikonhsaseh and Jikonsase, pronounced () was an
Penguin, 2003, no page given in Google preview According to John Brown Childs, an American sociologist of Oneida, Massachusaug, and African-American ancestry, Jigonhsaseh means "she who lives on the road to war", as this important woman lived next to the warriors' path that ran from east to west. Some scholars have suggested that the constitution of the Iroquois Confederacy influenced colonists who drafted the U.S. Constitution but there is no consensus on this.
Jigonhsasee (alternately spelled Jikonhsaseh and Jikonsase, pronounced () was an Iroquoian
The Iroquoian languages () are a language family of indigenous peoples of North America. They are known for their general lack of labial consonants. The Iroquoian languages are polysynthetic and head-marking.
As of 2020, almost all surviving I ...
woman considered to be a co-founder, along with the Great Peacemaker
The Great Peacemaker ( ), sometimes referred to as Deganawida or Tekanawí:ta in Mohawk (as a mark of respect, some Iroquois avoid using his personal name except in special circumstances) was by tradition, along with Jigonhsasee and Hiawatha, t ...
and Hiawatha
Hiawatha ( , also : ), also known as Ayenwatha or Aiionwatha, was a precolonial Native American leader and cofounder of the Iroquois Confederacy. He was a leader of the Onondaga people, the Mohawk people, or both. According to some accounts, he ...
, of the Haudenosaunee
The Iroquois ( ), also known as the Five Nations, and later as the Six Nations from 1722 onwards; alternatively referred to by the Endonym and exonym, endonym Haudenosaunee ( ; ) are an Iroquoian languages, Iroquoian-speaking Confederation#Ind ...
(Iroquois) Confederacy sometime between AD 1142 and 1450; others place it closer to 1570–1600. Jigonhsasee became known as the Mother of Nations among the Iroquois.
Legend and oral history
According to a short version of the Haudenosaunee oral tradition, an Iroquoian woman lived along the warriors' path. In some accounts she was referred to as Jigonhsasee; in others, she was given that name as a new one by theGreat Peacemaker
The Great Peacemaker ( ), sometimes referred to as Deganawida or Tekanawí:ta in Mohawk (as a mark of respect, some Iroquois avoid using his personal name except in special circumstances) was by tradition, along with Jigonhsasee and Hiawatha, t ...
after he recognized her as an ally in making peace. She was known for her hospitality to warriors as they traveled to and from battlegrounds and their homes. At her hearth, warriors of the various factions could come in peace. While they ate her food, she acted as counsel and learned their hearts.
It is in this context that the Great Peacemaker
The Great Peacemaker ( ), sometimes referred to as Deganawida or Tekanawí:ta in Mohawk (as a mark of respect, some Iroquois avoid using his personal name except in special circumstances) was by tradition, along with Jigonhsasee and Hiawatha, t ...
came to her and described his vision for a peace to be built upon a confederacy of the warring nations. She said this sounded good but asked what form it would take. He replied, "It will take the form of the longhouse
A longhouse or long house is a type of long, proportionately narrow, single-room building for communal dwelling. It has been built in various parts of the world including Asia, Europe, and North America.
Many were built from lumber, timber and ...
in which there are many hearths, one for each family, yet all live as one household under one chief mother. They shall have one mind and live under one law. Thinking will replace killing, and there shall be one commonwealth."
The woman recognized the power in peace. The Great Peacemaker gave her the task of assigning the men to different positions at the peace gathering, and to women in the future the power to choose the chiefs of the longhouse. He called her Mother of Nations, as she was the first ally of his peace movement.
Commentary
Jacob Needleman, a contemporary American writer on religion, notes that in Iroquoian history, "through the mediation of a woman"..., "the mission of peace takes form in the world." In addition, "it is women's power of judgement that will ultimately determine the leadership of the Iroquois Confederacy." because the Great Peacemaker gave women the power to choose the chiefs who would represent their people at council. According to oral tradition, theGreat Peacemaker
The Great Peacemaker ( ), sometimes referred to as Deganawida or Tekanawí:ta in Mohawk (as a mark of respect, some Iroquois avoid using his personal name except in special circumstances) was by tradition, along with Jigonhsasee and Hiawatha, t ...
, who brought Hiawatha
Hiawatha ( , also : ), also known as Ayenwatha or Aiionwatha, was a precolonial Native American leader and cofounder of the Iroquois Confederacy. He was a leader of the Onondaga people, the Mohawk people, or both. According to some accounts, he ...
and this woman together to create the Iroquois Confederacy, gave her a new name of Jigonhsaseh, saying that it meant New Face: "It is in your countenance that a New Mind is manifest." Needleman writes further that "Out of the womb of the New Mind the nations will be born anew."Jacob Needleman, "A Certain Woman along the Warriors Path", ''The American Soul: Rediscovering the Wisdom of the Founders''Penguin, 2003, no page given in Google preview According to John Brown Childs, an American sociologist of Oneida, Massachusaug, and African-American ancestry, Jigonhsaseh means "she who lives on the road to war", as this important woman lived next to the warriors' path that ran from east to west. Some scholars have suggested that the constitution of the Iroquois Confederacy influenced colonists who drafted the U.S. Constitution but there is no consensus on this.
Legacy and honors
*Genetic researchers in the late 20th century named one of the fivehuman mitochondrial DNA haplogroups
In human genetics, a human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup is a haplogroup defined by differences in Human mitochondrial genetics, human mitochondrial DNA. Haplogroups are used to represent the major branch points on the mitochondrial phylogenetic ...
(in the maternal line) found among Native American populations as Djigonasee in her honor.
See also
*List of peace activists
This list of peace activists includes people who have proactively advocated Diplomacy, diplomatic, philosophical, and non-military resolution of major territorial or ideological disputes through nonviolent means and methods. Peace activists usua ...
References
External links
*, author's personal website *, posted by Public Bookshelf.com, said to be published in late 1800s {{Iroquois Confederacy Iroquois women National founders Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown Women Native American leaders