QUOTES

Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People. Now our minds are one."
Excert from Thankgiving Address that the Haudenosaunee recite whenever they gather.

"We are become a small people and much lessened by the war. If the people of Virginia, Maryland, Pensilvania, the Jerseys, Connecticutt and New-England who have all put their hand to the Covenant Chain will joyn with the inhabitants of this place we are ready to go and root out the French and all our enemyes out of Canada.... We renew the covenant chain in behalfe of the whole House, the Mohaques, Oneydes, Onondages Cayouges & Sinnekes."
Benjamin Fletcher, English Governor at Albany speaking to Haudenosaunee, 1696

"We now entreat you to Join us in our Request to ye. Genrl. and Govr. wh. is, that they Assist in keeping bright, and Strong ye. Covenant Chain, which is to say [that] of late [the Covenant Chain] seems to contract a great deal of rust."
Teyyawarunte, Onondaga Spokesman speaking about the relationship between New York and the Haudenosaunee, 1763

“You who are wise must know, that different Nations have different conceptions.”
Canasatego, an Onondaga Spokesman addressing English Colonial Officials, 1744

"The immediate objects are the total destruction and devastation of their settlements and the capture of as many prisoneers of every sex and age possible. It is essential to ruin their crops in the ground and prevent their planting."
Gen. George Washington's orders to attack the Haudenosaunee, 1778

"To remove the animosities which have arisen during the late war ... considering our loses, the debts we have incurred and our former friendship, it is reasonable that you make to us such a cession of your lands as will aid us in repairing and discharging the same."
Gov. George Clinton to Haudenosaunee chiefs, 1784

"It gave me great pain to hear last year that some of our young men had on their own accord and without our consent gone into your country and purchased your lands ... They are disobedient children who have violated the laws made by their fathers ..."
Gov. George Clinton to the Onondagas, 1788

"We did not expect that you, after advising us to shun private treaties with individuals and avoid selling our lands to your disobedient children, that you would yourself purchase lands from a few of our wrong-headed young men, without the consent or knowledge of the chiefs."
Onondaga Chief Sharongyowanon to Gov. George Clinton, 1789

"I call upon you to point out a single instance in which we have not acted fairly, openly and honestly with you, as brothers should do with each other, or in which we have failed to fufill our agreements with you."
Gov. George Clinton to Onondaga and Cayuga chiefs, 1794

“We heartily recommend Union and a good agreement between you, out [English] bretheren … Our wise forefathers established union and amity between the Five Nations; this has made us formidable; this has given us great weight and authority in our neighboring nations.
We are a powerful Confederacy; and, by your observing the same methods our wise forefathers have taken, you will acquire fresh strength and power.”
Canasatego (Onondaga) 1744 – Treaty of Lancaster

“It would be a very strtange thing if six Nations of ignorant Savages should be capable of forming a Scheme for such a union, and be able to execute it in such a Manner, that it has subsisted ages, and appears indissoluble, and yet that a like Union should be impracticable for ten or a Dozen English Colonies …”
Benjamin Franklin 1751

"In this Land Rights Action we seek justice.  Justice for the waters. Justice for the four legggeds and the wingeds, whose habitats have been taken.  We justice, not just for ourselves, but justice for the whole creation. "
Audrey Shenandoah Land Rights News Conference 2005

"If it were up to us, we wouldn't have written a Bill of Rights without a Bill of Responsibility"
Irving Powless Jr. speaking at Syracuse Stage about Haudenosaunee and United States government 2007.