Fall Conference
November 21st, 2015
Background Guide
The Oswego Council: a Meeting of the Grand
Council of the Iroquois, 1777
Zak Marcone
1
Acknowledgments
CESims gratefully acknowledges Zak Marcone for his contribution to this
background guide and for staffing this CESims conference.
Secretariat
Danting Liu - Secretary General
Mark Jamias - Director General
John Mellow - Undersecretary General for Conference Operations
Carol Shou - Undersecretary General for Curriculum
Diana Liang & Alvaro Miranda – Undersecretary General for Committees
2
Structure
Procedure
Attire
All delegates will be expected to wear Western Business Attire.
Language
All delegates are expected to speak English during debate.
Parliamentary Procedure
Point of Order
Delegates may request a point of order when they feel that the rules of
procedure are not being adequately followed by either the Chair or another
delegate. Points of order may interrupt a speech.
Point of Inquiry
Should a delegate need clarification on parliamentary procedure or
motions, or any other germane topic, he or she may request a point of
inquiry. Points of inquiry should not interrupt other speakers, and substantive
analyses or speeches are not allowed during points of inquiry. In any case,
delegates who feel uncertain and want clarification are strongly encouraged
to make use of points of inquiry.
Point of Information
A point of information may generally be made be a delegate for the
following reasons: either the delegate would like to clarify a point or motion,
or he or she feels that there is relevant information that ought to be shared
with the dais. These may not interrupt a speaker.
Point of Personal Privilege
Points of personal privilege may be raised when a delegate feels his or
her ability to participate in debate is impaired for a physical or logistical
reason—examples include speakers who cannot be heard, or conditions on
3
the room, such as lighting or temperature, that make the delegate
uncomfortable. Points of personal privilege may interrupt a speaker.
Right of Reply
In rare cases, a delegate may feel that his or her personal dignity
and/or integrity has been deliberately offended, in which case he or she can
request a right of reply. These may not interrupt a speaker and are generally
given out at the chair’s discretion.
Motion for a Moderated Caucus
In order to proceed with formal debate, a delegate may request a
motion for a moderated caucus. In doing so, the delegate must specify the
topic to be debated, the length of the caucus, and the speaking time. The
majority of the committee’s debate is expected to take place during
moderated caucuses.
Motion for an Unmoderated Caucus
When motioning for an unmoderated caucus, delegates must specify
the topic of discussion and length of the caucus. Unlike a moderated caucus,
in an unmoderated caucus the rules of debate are suspended and delegates
will be free to enter or leave their seats, and the room, at their discretion for
the duration of the caucus. Delegates are expected to use this time to openly
discuss, debate, and write documents for submission.
Motion to Enter Voting Procedure
If a delegate feels that a certain document has been discussed enough,
he or she may motion to enter voting procedure. Should the motion pass,
debate will be suspended on that document and the committee will enter
voting procedure.
Motion to Suspend Debate
At the end of a committee session, a delegate may motion to suspend
debate. When such a motion passes, committee will be suspended until the
beginning of the next session.
Motion to Adjourn Debate
At the end of the final committee session, a delegate may motion to
adjourn debate. When passed, all committee business will be concluded.
4
Documents
Directives and Press Releases are the main documents delegates can
submit to be voted on by the body. The standards and procedures pertaining
to both can be found below.
Directives
Directives are the primary means by which the body can take collective
action. Generally these documents are more substantive than individual
crisis notes, and as such are more powerful. As such, they must be specific
and concise in how they outline the committee’s actions. In order to be
considered for debate and voting, directives must have a certain number of
signatories, although the exact number is left to the chair’s discretion. Once
that is done, the directives may be amended, debated, and eventually voted
on. In order to pass, they must be approved by a simple majority (50%+1) of
the committee.
Amendments
Amendments are actions added onto a directive, although not part of
the original directive in and of themselves. Barring exceptions made by the
chair, amendments must be in writing. There are two kinds of amendments:
friendly and unfriendly. Friendly amendments are those that are approved of
unanimously by all the signatories of the relevant directive, and are
otherwise not to be voted on. Unfriendly amendments are those which do not
have the unanimous approval of all signatories, and must be voted on by the
committee as a whole. As with directives, they need a simple majority in
order to pass.
Press Releases
Press releases will be the primary form of direct communication
between the Nationalist Party and the outside world. Their process is similar
to directives: they must be written up by a delegate, have a certain number
of signatories, and must be voted on by the body as a whole. Unlike
directives, which outline actions the body will take, press releases are the
body’s opinion(s) regarding a certain relevant topic.
5
Communication during committee
Between Delegates
Delegates are encouraged to exchange ideas between one anther
during un-moderated caucuses and through the passage of notes during
normal flow of debate. Out of respect for other members of the Convention,
however, no side-talk during a member’s speech will be tolerated and the
chair may take disciplinary action against delegates not adhering to this
policy.
To the Chair
Delegates may submit questions or comments through notes that may
be directed to the Chair and/or the Dais. Delegates are also strongly
encouraged to raise points of inquiry should any procedural matters be
unclear during debate.
To Members not Present in this Convention
If delegates deem it fit to communicate with members not currently
present in committee, they may write notes directed at those members
specifically and to “crisis,” which may be passed to the Dais.
6
History
Ancient History and the Founding of the Iroquois Confederacy
The Iroquois people refers to a group of Native American peoples that
inhabited the Northeastern woodlands of North America primarily in what is
today New York State. It is believed that the Iroquois moved into this territory
long before European settlement (at least 4,000 years prior) resulting in a
displacement of a subset of the Algonquin tribal peoples. This is evidenced in
the linguistic differences between the Iroquois and the Algonquin tribes that
surround them. For centuries, the Iroquois lived as a divided people often
warring amongst themselves. Such conflicts arose despite common cultural
practices and linguistic similarities.
At some point, the warring tribes saw the benefit in pursuing peace
and unity. Historians disagree on the precise date of unification; many place
it at approximately 1590. However, others have argued that the Iroquois
were united under some form of confederacy since the 13th century.
Regardless, most historians agree on a well-established legend of unification.
According to legend, Iroquoian unification was initiated by the Huron
Prophet Deganawida, “The Great Peacemaker,” a man of wide acclaim in the
Huron tribe for his spiritual abilities who traveled throughout Iroquois
territory preaching unity. Initially, the Iroquois were not receptive to his
proposal, largely due to Deganawida’s position as an outsider from the Huron
tribe, which in turn was closely associated with the Algonquin. Moreover,
Deganawida was alleged to be unskilled in oration. Despite these
shortcomings, Deganawida acquired a small group of disciples, among which
was the brilliant and charismatic orator Hiawatha, who emerged as a new
leader of the movement. Hiawatha’s tribal origin is widely disputed, however
it is certain that he was a member of one of the Five Iroquois Nations. Such
internal stirrings ultimately swayed opinion in favor of unification. Hiawatha
is credited with ending centuries of periodic warfare amongst the Iroquois.
The efforts of Hiawatha ultimately produced the Grand Council of the Iroquois
or the Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee (“People Who Build a House” in
reference to the common Iroquois practice of constructing longhouses).
Additionally, the Iroquois tribes began to identify as the “Iroquois
Confederacy” or the “Five Nations” (“Six Nations” after the migration of the
Tuscarora in 1722).
7
Governance and Proceedings of the Grand Council
As a confederacy the Grand Council only met when one of the
constituent tribes called for a meeting to discuss a particular issue. Runners
would first be sent to the elders of the Onondaga Tribe, who would
subsequently decide whether or not the issue was worth debating. If the
matter was deemed sufficiently pertinent, the Onondaga would send runners
to the tribal elders of all of the Iroquois nations. The message would
summarize the issue and set a date for all of the tribal representatives to
come together at the Grand Council. If the issue was not deemed pertinent it
would be left up to the particular tribal governments to solve the problem.
Once the Grand Council was convened, the Onondaga would open debate
with a Thanksgiving address and then present the issue to the Elder
Brothers. The Elder Brothers consisted of the Onondaga, Mohawk, and
Seneca representatives, who would debate the matter without the other
tribes until a consensus was reached. Their decision would then be presented
to the Younger Brothers which consisted of the tribal representatives from
the Oneida, Cayuga, and eventually the Tuscarora. Similarly, these
representatives would discuss the issue and then announce their decision to
the Elder Brothers. If the Elder Brothers and Younger Brothers agree on what
action should be taken the decision is then reconsidered by the Onondaga
representatives, who are then supposed to determine if the decision aligns
with the cultural values and laws of the Iroquois. If the decision meets these
standards, it is announced to all of the tribes and the action is taken. If there
is any disagreement, a debate within the whole chamber takes place. It is
possible for no action to be taken if a consensus cannot be reached.
For the purposes of this committee, we will not be following the
traditional rules as laid out above. However, it is important to understand
these rules in a cultural context to get a sense of the tribal hierarchies within
the Iroquois as well as what values the Iroquois consider when making
decisions. When proposing directives, remember that the Iroquois were
always looking for “consensus.” This concept is ill-defined and abstract, but
you are going to want to propose directives that most of the committee
supports or is at least indifferent to. Moreover, consider what role you would
have served to the Iroquois from your tribe’s perspective. Although we are
looking for everyone to take initiative, if you are from the Onondaga tribe, for
instance, the Iroquois would particularly expect you to actively propose new
ideas and issues.
8
The Seven Years’ War and the Role of the Iroquois
Faced with the encroachment of the European juggernaut, many of
North America’s eastern Native Americans were rapidly displaced or
destroyed in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Iroquois, however, managed to
utilize the imperialistic yearnings of the Europeans to their advantage and
survive for much longer than their counterparts. They accomplished this by
seizing upon the national divisions of the Europeans and playing rival nations
off of each other. This was perhaps most cleverly implemented during the
Seven Years’ War or, as it is known in the United States, the French and
Indian War.
The Seven Years’ War was the first European war of empire that began
in North America. Others, such as the War of Spanish Succession or the War
of Austrian Succession, began in Europe or in non-American overseas
holdings. The Seven Years’ War, in contrast, began over a struggle for land
on the American frontier. At the most fundamental level, the war was a
conflict between the British and French empires for primacy in the world
stage. It can be considered, however, the first “World War” considering the
breadth of involvement and the diversity of battlefields, which spanned all
colonial holdings from the Americas to the Indian Ocean. In North America,
the conflict consisted of a struggle between the forces of New France and the
British Empire with its thirteen colonies.
New France has its origins in the explorations of Samuel de Champlain,
who founded Quebec in 1608. French Jesuit missionaries and courier du bois
eventually spread French holdings to Newfoundland, the Great Lakes, and
much of Canada and the Mississippi River. France also had a strong claim to
the fertile land of the Ohio River Valley. In their explorations in North
America, the French found a strong native ally in the Algonquin tribes. The
Algonquin tribes had been the local rivals of the Iroquois for centuries. The
conflict is partially the result of significant linguistic differences between the
two, but also from competition for resources in the same general geographic
region. Demographically, the population of New France was almost
exclusively Catholic French who sparsely populated the vast territories of
9
New France. Economically, New France was supported almost entirely by the
fur trade, which was carried out by rough frontiersman in the forests of New
France. There was little family culture or a culture of permanent settlement
in New France.
Britain first obtained a permanent foothold in North America through
the English settlements in Jamestown and Massachusetts in the early 1600s.
Religious oppression, economic opportunity, and a surplus population in the
British Isles catalyzed a rapid expansion of British settlement on North
America’s Atlantic coast. As tobacco and rice farming pushed colonization
southwards, the Quakers founded Pennsylvania, the Catholics inhabited
Maryland, New Amsterdam was seized from the Dutch, and the Puritans,
through both dogmatism and dissidence, expanded New England. The 13
British colonies rapidly became centers of economic prosperity through
shipping, fishing, timbering, fur trapping, and rice/tobacco agriculture.
Interactions with Native Americans were mixed. While the French rarely
came into conflict with their Native co-inhabitants, the British often faced
hostilities from them. The French were able to maintain such placidity
because of their relatively small influence in the vast territories of New
France. The average courier du bois lived in a small frontier post from which
he could enter the vast woodlands and obtain furs. The British, on the other
hand, landed in North America by the boatloads seeking permanent
settlement and exploitation of the land. This put them at odds with Native
settlements often leading to conflict. Indeed, the 17th century was a century
of bloodshed in North America as the British clashed with Natives in the
Powhatan Wars of 1610-14, 1622-32, and 1644-46, and the Pequot War of
1637. The French on the other hand rapidly developed a partnership with the
Algonquin tribes. Faced with incessant Native American threats and an
increasingly powerful French adversary, the British looked for a Native
American ally. The obvious candidate was the Iroquois Confederation of the
New York woodlands. The colonists and Iroquois (especially the Mohawk)
were becoming wealthy through mutual trade. The Iroquois valued their
colonial and British trading partners just as the colonists and British valued
10
the Iroquois. Such economic ties protected the Iroquois from British
settlement while also enabling prosperity. Thus, the Iroquois and the British
colonists developed a strong relationship.
This relationship was first put to the test in 1650 during the Beaver
Wars. Iroquois imperial ambition brought them into a violent conflict with the
Algonquin. The Iroquois sought to expand their territory to obtain a virtual
monopoly over North American fur trade. This would benefit not only the
Iroquois but also their British trading partners. Therefore, the British decided
to supply weapons to the Iroquois. The French likewise supplied their
Algonquin allies. The Iroquois won the war from a strategic standpoint.
Importantly, however, this proxy war solidified the Iroquois-British alliance
and foreshadowed future imperial conflict between the French and the
British.
Later imperial wars further strengthened Iroquois-British cooperation.
The Iroquois provided logistical and military support to the British against the
French during Queen Anne’s War (1702-13). At first glance, the Iroquois
acted as dedicated allies of the British, even prompting the French to accept
total British suzerainty over the Iroquois. However, in reality the Iroquois
oftentimes only supported the British when it was certain that the latter were
going to win. Moreover, the war prompted the Tuscarora, an unenthusiastic
British ally, to join the Iroquois Confederacy in 1711. Despite this, the
Iroquois truly did act as strong allies of the British during King George’s War
(1744-48). To summarize, mutual trade and interests fostered an IroquoisBritish alliance that remained intact (though variable in strength) through
one hundred years of British-French conflict.
Despite consistent bloodshed, the aforementioned wars failed to
resolve the power struggle between Britain and France in the New World.
Almost as soon as King George’s War ended, a new war seemed imminent.
Tensions came to a head in the fertile Ohio River Valley, wherein the British
and French maintained competing claims. Ambitious British colonials and the
inhabitants of New France sought to cultivate the valley and make enormous
profit off of the rich soil. Moreover, the valley would serve as yet another
11
region where one power could displace the other in North America. War
erupted when the French began construction of a series of forts in the Ohio
Valley to extend their military and political influence in the region. A young
George Washington, acting as a commander in the Virginia Regiment, led his
men into a skirmish with French troops. This incident prompted a full imperial
response from the British and their colonies.
The French and Indian War lasted from 1754-63 and was not much
different than the previous conflicts in terms of alliance structure. Indeed, the
Algonquin fought strongly for the French while the loyal Iroquois fought
bravely for Britain and her colonies. However, the outcome of the French and
Indian War would vastly alter the course of history in North America. By the
end of the war, the British and the Iroquois had fully forced the French into
capitulation. The terms of the Treaty of Paris compelled the French to cede all
of its North American territories--except for their holdings in the Caribbean-to the British. Thereafter, the British enjoyed nearly complete, uncontested
dominion over eastern North America and Canada. The Iroquois, likewise,
enjoyed the fruits of victory. However, this victory would soon contribute a
disintegration of Iroquois power in North America. Prior to the war, the
Iroquois successfully positioned themselves between the British and the
French. So long as there was a French enemy to be resisted, the Iroquois
were valuable partners for the British. By completely defeating the French,
the Iroquois in essence destroyed a major source of their power. In addition,
the Algonquin tribes, who had lost their only European ally, were forced to
seek out a partnership with the only European power left: the British. Thus,
the Iroquois were no longer the only significant Native ally to the British and
they could no longer rely on British support against the Algonquin. Finally,
with the removal of the French, the Ohio River Valley and other previously
contested regions became open to colonial settlement. For the first time, the
Iroquois and other traditionally sovereign Native American tribes were forced
to confront increasingly ambitious colonial territorial incursions.
The distant British were often sympathetic to the Native Americans and
as such took measures to limit the advancement of the colonists westward.
12
After the war, the British passed the Proclamation of 1763, which prohibited
colonial settlement into tribal lands. This was the first in a series of
parliamentary and royal actions to elicit extreme contempt in the Thirteen
Colonies. The colonists felt that the British were stripping them of the land
they had courageously fought for and were severely restricting their
economic opportunities. The British were simply reacting, however, to the
extreme dissent of the western Native Americans, as manifested in Pontiac’s
Rebellion (1763-66). Pontiac and Guyasuta, provoked by British arrogance
and incursions in the Ohio River Valley, led several tribes in open warfare
against the British. The Iroquois were notably neutral except for the Seneca
tribe, which followed its leader, Guyasuta. Thus, the Proclamation of 1763
was intended to placate these Native Americans as well as others, much to
colonial chagrin. The Proclamation line was later moved further westward to
appease the colonists, but the move failed to calm the latter and only further
angered the Native Americans.
Thus, although the British came out of the Seven Years’ War as the
greatest European imperial power, they were faced with great difficulties in
their North American holdings. Any action that the British took to appease
one side would inevitably enrage the other. Moreover, the Empire was facing
threats to its rule in colonies across the globe while also facing significant
monetary deficits due to the incredible costs of the war. The British
Parliament needed a way, therefore, to assert itself over its dominion while
also raising revenue. A series of Prime Ministers legislated various direct
taxes on all of Britain’s colonies--not just the Thirteen American Colonies.
These taxes demonstrated Parliament’s direct control over its holdings as
well as bringing in additional revenue to pay off war debts, but they ignited
extreme contempt in the Thirteen Colonies. This is largely because, prior to
the war, taxation was left up to the colonial legislatures, which would then
send a portion of the tax revenue to London. The colonists were used to this
indirect system, wherein they could democratically negotiate taxes with their
legislatures. Direct parliamentary taxes were viewed as a threat to colonial
democracy despite parliament’s claims of “virtual representation” of the
colonists in London.
13
This era is filled with events which may prove critical to the committee’s
context. As such, looking up the following events is suggested:
·
Sugar Act, 1764
·
Stamp Tax, 1765
·
Quartering Act, 1765
·
Virginia Resolution, 1765
·
Stamp Act Congress, 1765
·
Declaratory Act, 1766
·
Townshend Duties, 1767
·
Boston Massacre, 1770
·
Gaspee Incident, 1772
·
Tea Act, 1773
·
Boston Tea Party, 1773
·
Intolerable Acts, 1774
·
Lexington and Concord, 1775
Events Leading Up to the Oswego Council, July 1777
The war between Britain and her colonies has been raging for nearly
two years now. The Iroquois have remained neutral despite several inquiries
by both sides. Currently the war has been indecisive despite significant
British victories, though the British military is not performing as well as one
might have predicted. They have been victorious at Bunker Hill in Boston and
have successfully seized New York City. However, they have faced setbacks
in Trenton and Princeton, where Washington’s troops successfully defeated
British and Hessian soldiers. The current British strategy is to separate New
England from the rest of the colonies by taking control over the Hudson
River. They have already seized the southern portion and now must take
regions in the north that are right on the border of Iroquois lands. General
John Burgoyne is planning to move a large contingent of British troops from
Canada into the Hudson Valley in an attempt to take the region from the
14
colonists. The Iroquois could serve as strong supporters of the British or side
with the Americans to repel the attack. Recognizing this, British Colonel John
Butler has called for a meeting of the Grand Council of the Iroquois in
Oswego. He has presented the committee with substantial gifts and presents
that the colonists could never provide. This is where our committee will start:
July 13, 1777.
Topics of Debate
Topic One: Active Participation versus Neutrality
For over a century the Iroquois have supported the British as a strong
ally. However, in the aftermath of the French and Indian War, the British have
been unable to fulfill their side of the alliance as they had before the war.
Some members of the Iroquois view Britain as an unreliable partner and
some, such as the Seneca, have even engaged the British in open war. The
alternative would be an alliance with the colonists. If the colonists do indeed
win the war, it would be in the interest of the Iroquois to establish good
relations with them before the colonists turn to other allies, such as other
tribes, or the French. However, it is largely the colonists who are violating the
decrees of the crown and settling lands beyond the Proclamation lines.
Additionally, some tribesmen have called for neutrality to avoid the Iroquois
from being damaged in another war. Moreover, by remaining neutral the
Iroquois might be able to prevent a decisive victory which would further
undercut Iroquois power, as after the French and Indian War.
Topic Two: Incursions into Native Territories
Prior to the war the lands of the Iroquois were increasingly coming
under pressure from colonial and British incursions. These ambitious
capitalists are seeking to utilize the vast lands and resources of Native
territories for economic profit. This is an incredible breach of sovereignty that
the British have been unable to resolve. The committee must come up with
some method of deterring colonial advances on their territory. These
discussions may coincide with discussions on allegiance but the committee
must act quickly or they will face unprecedented violations.
15
Topic Three: the Algonquin Threat
For centuries, the Iroquois have clashed with their Algonquin
neighbors. Through their European alliances they have attempted to
eliminate them as a threat but have been unsuccessful. Now the British have
turned to the Algonquin as allies in the Revolutionary War. Breaking historical
precedent, the Algonquin have been supporting the British in their war
against the colonists before the Iroquois. While formulating alliances and
taking multilateral and/or unilateral action, the Iroquois must take into
consideration the annihilation or pacification of the Algonquin.
Positions List
Cornplanter
Cornplanter is a prominent war chief in the Seneca tribe. During the
French and Indian War, he persuaded the Seneca to align with the British. He
has command over Seneca troops and connections with the British, although
he is adamantly anti-British and would rather see neutrality or an alliance
with the Americans.
Guyasuta
Guyasuta is a prominent chief in the Seneca tribe and the uncle of
Cornplanter. His primary goal is to maintain the unity of the Iroquois at all
costs, even if that means siding with a non-conventional ally. He has ties with
George Washington, despite the fact that he fought for the French during the
Seven Years’ War. He was also major player in Pontiac’s Rebellion.
Handsome Lake
Handsome Lake is the most influential religious leader in the Seneca
Tribe. He uses his religious power to maintain unity among the Iroquois, but
could also use that power to forward his own cause.
Governor Blacksnake
Blacksnake is a powerful war chief of the Seneca tribe. He is pro-British
and intends to put his troops behind the British Empire. However, he feels
even more strongly about maintaining the territorial integrity of the Iroquois
Nations, and is willing to compromise only to retain sovereignty.
Joseph Brant
As with most of his fellow Mohawk tribesmen, Brant is incredibly proBritish. He is an accomplished soldier in the British military and has been
fighting against the Americans since the outbreak of the war. He has also
16
journeyed to London and met with King George III. He has come to this
meeting to persuade the Iroquois in an effort to ensure that the Six Nations
do not disintegrate.
Old Smoke
Old Smoke is a powerful war chief of the Seneca and strong ally of
Cornplanter. He will vigorously support neutrality and believes that alliances
will inevitably lead to internal division.
Johannes Tekarihoga
Tekarihoga is a powerful chief of the Mohawk tribe. He is pro-British but
more open to compromise than many of his tribesmen. He has influence over
much of the Mohawk people and is directly connected with them.
Joseph Louis Cook
A half-African Iroquois tribesmen, Cook was adopted by a Mohawk
family at a young age. He eventually became one of the most prominent
Mohawk chiefs. However, his strong pro-colonial stance against the British
has put him at odds with other Mohawk leaders. He is beginning to have
strong connections with the Oneida, who side with the Americans. His
personal hatred of Brant threatens to destroy the Iroquois.
John Deseronto
Deseronto is a wealthy Mohawk war chief. He wants to ensure that his
lucrative land holdings at Fort Hunter are protected from ambitious colonial
intrusions. As such, he naturally supports the British cause and intends to
use his political influence to put troops behind the British.
John Shenandoah
Shenandoah is a powerful Oneida chief. He is very pro-American and
has connections with the Tuscarora tribe. Additionally, he is a baptized
Christian with connections to Christian leaders in the colonies
Deer Hunter
Deer Hunter is a powerful Oneida war chief with a substantial force
under his command. In the past he fought during the French and Indian War
and attained political prominence in its aftermath.
John Brennan
Brennan spent most of his young life in the Oneida tribe living a
traditional Iroquois life. However, at the age of 18 he was recruited by a
colonial shipping company to work in New York City. He has accumulated a
17
modest wealth and has many commercial connections in the colonies. He
lives half of the year in New York and the other half with the Oneida, where
he is often called upon as an adviser.
Wise Hawk
Wise Hawk is an influential religious leader in the Oneida tribe.
Although Handsome Lake has previously had greater influence over all the
Iroquois Nations, Wise Hawk has ambitions to spread his ideology. Wise Hawk
was influenced by Christian missionaries at a young age and has created a
blended theology of Iroquois beliefs and Christian values. Colonial/British
intrusion into Iroquois territories may threaten his ideology.
Lake Chief
Lake Chief is one of the Cayuga’s most influential political leaders. He
is well-versed in Iroquois theology, but has also successfully dissuaded three
ambitious colonial companies from encroaching on Cayuga territory. He is
generally pro-British.
Leaping Hare
Known for his boisterous and loud personality, Leaping Hare is a man
of action. He rapidly rose to the highest military position in the Cayuga and
would like to see greater unity in the Iroquois so that he could command an
even larger force of troops. He is pro-British but will fight whoever to get
glory.
Tall Oak
Widely known as the “peacemaker,” Tall Oak is willing to put aside all
personal ambitions to maintain the unity of the Iroquois tribes. In the Cayuga
tribe, Tall Oak has assumed a position similar to a diplomat. He has many
political connections in the Six Nations as well as with the British and
Americans.
Joseph Hammond
As the oldest attendee of the Oswego Council, Hammond is widely
respected for his wisdom and experience. He fought valiantly during the
French and Indian War, during which he came to strongly respect the British
officers and detest the disorganized colonists.
Swift Tortoise
The most prominent Tuscarora chief, Swift Tortoise is widely known for
his careful but expedient deliberations when making decisions. He is good
friends with John Shenandoah and strongly supports the colonists.
18
Additionally, he commands a moderately sized force of troops but has no
prior experience in warfare.
Cunning Fox
One of the Iroquois’ most prominent military chiefs, Cunning Fox is a
Tuscarora known for his brilliant troop maneuvers and ability to outsmart his
enemies. He has incurred few casualties in his campaigns, which is a feat he
accomplished by only acting when the battle would work in his favor.
Cunning Fox will advocate for action only when the Iroquois are guaranteed
to win. He is strongly pro-American.
Jeremiah Smith
Smith is a half-white Tuscarora chief. His mother, the daughter of a
Protestant minister of the First Great Awakening, greatly influenced his
conversion to Christianity. He vocally supports the conversion of the Iroquois
to Protestantism in order to improve relations with the colonists. Smith is proAmerican and does not see a future for Britain in North America.
Old River
Old River is an overseer of the Tuscarora harvest. He is often in direct
contact with American and British merchants who want to purchase Iroquois
crops. Through these financial connections Old River has come to learn of the
colonists’ powerful economic drive. As such, he is an advocate for supporting
the Americans in the conflict.
Hawk Chief
Hawk Chief is the most influential chief in the Onondaga tribe and one
of the most influential chiefs in the Six Nations. With his strong personality,
he has advocated for neutrality. However, he is strongly considering allying
with the British to reap the benefits of their likely victory. Statements by
Hawk Chief carry much weight amongst the Onondaga people.
Wolf Tamer
Wolf Tamer is Hawk Chief’s right hand man and has significant
influence over the affairs of the Onondaga tribe. Wolf Tamer also commands
a large contingent of Iroquois troops; one of the strongest in the tribe. In
Hawk Chief’s absence, political power in the Onondaga generally falls to Wolf
Tamer.
19
Wise Deer
Wise Deer is Hawk Chief’s most respected adviser. Wise Deer spent
much of his young life traveling around the Algonquin and Huron tribes
learning of their politics and customs. He has also visited the Thirteen
Colonies and Canada. Wise Deer’s wisdom is widely respected in the Iroquois
Nations.
Strong Bear
Strong Bear is the Onondaga’s most influential financial adviser to
Hawk Chief. He has worked with Old River on a number of trade negotiations
with the Americans and British. He is currently undecided on which side he
will take in the war but is looking for a strong leader to take charge.
Smoky Creek
Smoky Creek, a Mohawk tribesman, is Joseph Brant’s most loyal
follower. Creek has accompanied Brant on several of his military campaigns
with the British and strongly supports allying with the latter. Creek serves as
a propagandist for the British cause, often traveling around the Six Nations
calling for an alliance with the British.
20