Haudenosaunee thought and philosophy frameworks for land tenure policies: 19th century policies as lessons for the 21st century and beyond 
(Seminars)
21 November 2011
2pm
Venue: Waipapa Marae, The University of Auckland, 20 Wynyard Street
Contact email: a.harris@auckland.ac.nz
Department of History seminar by Associate Professor Susan Hill, University of Western Ontario.
Haudenosaunee cultural history holds the keys to understanding the thought and philosophy that frame Haudenosaunee land tenure processes and values. This presentation will look at how the Grand River Haudenosaunee used the lessons of their cultural history to navigate the tumultuous times of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, governing their territory as a sovereign entity in spite of the colonial actions of the governments of Canada - most notably the Canadian Indian Act. Based upon the official council records of the Grand River Council of Chiefs, this presentation will look at innovative land tenure policies that were grounded in original Haudenosaunee thought, particularly the Creation Story, the Kayaneren’kowa (Great Law) and the Karihwiyo (Code of Handsome Lake). Finally, the presentation will look at the contemporary implications of the century-old policies that serve as the foundation for a revitalization of Haudenosaunee thought and philosophy, particularly in connection to human-land relationships.
