Our History

Six Nations of The Grand River

The Six Nations, also known as the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy, is an alliance of Indigenous nations in North America. The confederacy originally consisted of five nations—the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca—and later included the Tuscarora in the early 18th century.

Key Aspects of Our History:

Modern Advocacy & Sovereignty (20th-21st Century)
Today, the Six Nations continue to assert our sovereignty, protect our lands, and promote Indigenous rights. We are recognized for our governance system, cultural preservation, and contributions to environmental and political activism.

Formation of the Confederacy (~12th-15th Century)
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy was founded through the efforts of the Peacemaker, Hiawatha, and Jigonsaseh to end intertribal warfare and establish a political and social alliance based on the Great Law of Peace.

European Contact & Fur Trade (17th Century)
The Six Nations played a key role in the fur trade with the French, Dutch, and British. Their strategic location in the Northeast allowed them to influence trade and regional politics.

Alliances & Wars (17th-18th Century)
The Haudenosaunee engaged in conflicts like the Beaver Wars, expanding their influence, and later sided with the British in the French and Indian War and American Revolution. Their alliance with the British led to consequences after the British defeat.

Displacement & Land Loss (18th-19th Century)
After the American Revolution, many Haudenosaunee lost their lands in the U.S. and some relocated to Canada. Treaties and land cessions led to significant reductions in their traditional territory.

Survival & Resistance (19th-20th Century)
Despite pressures of assimilation and land loss, the Six Nations maintained their government, culture, and traditions. They played roles in military service (e.g., World Wars) and resisted policies like residential schools.