Syracuse University Press Seven Generations of Iroquois Leadership: The Six Nations Since 1800 (Iroquois & Their Neighbors) (The Iroquois and Their Neighbors)

In Seven Generations of Iroquois Leadership, Laurence M. Hauptman traces the past 200 years of the Six Nations' history through the lens of the remarkable leaders who shaped it. Focusing on the distinct qualities of Iroquois leadership, Hauptman reveals how the Six Nations have survived in the face of overwhelming pressure. Employing a biographical approach and extensive research, the author explores how leaders use the past to enable cultural, economic, and political survival.Celebrated figures such as Governor Blacksnake, Cornelius Cusick, and Deskaheh are juxtaposed with less well-known but nonetheless influential champions of Haudenosaunee culture and sovereignty such as Dinah John. Hauptman's survey includes many female leaders including 35 contemporary women, highlighting the important role women have played in Iroquois survival throughout history to the present day.Including leaders from all six Iroquois nations and all regions of modern-day Iroquoia, the book offers both historical and contemporary portraits. Hauptman's lucid prose and unrivaled authority make this an accessible and indispensable volume.