Monuments To Six Nation Indians Collections

Treaty Rock, Canandaigua, New York

In central New York State at the end of beautiful Canandaigua Lake there is the village of Canandaigua. Here there is a stone marker pointing out the place where the famous Pickering or Canandaigua Treaty took place. This historic event, occurring here on Nov. 11, 1794, was the treaty which established peace and friendship between the Six Nation Iroquois Confederacy and the United States. Over 1,600 Indians were present when this treaty was signed. The State of New York as an English and Dutch colony, had made treaties with the Six Nations. She planned to continue this practice as a … Read more

The Spring Of The Great Spirit, Saratoga, New York

In the Village of Saratoga, N. Y., is a spring that has always been regarded by the ancient Mohawks as being very sacred because of its healing powers. It was called by them, “The Spring of the Great Spirit.” Near it is an inscription which reads, “This sacred spring of the Mohawks was known as the Spring of the Great Spirit and it is now known as The High Rock Spring. The first white man to visit it was Sir William Johnson in 1767. General George Washington, George Clinton and Alexander Hamilton visited Philip Schuyler at this spring in 1788.” … Read more

The Great Central Trail Of The Long House, Route 5, New York

The Iroquois Indians were the trail makers for the early settlers of New York State and its surrounding territory. The white people landed here, strangers in a strange land. They met the Indian who was a woodsman without an equal. The Iroquois knew his country. He knew water courses, elevations and passes through the mountains. His race had used them for centuries. The Iroquois trails formed the first basis of water and land travel. The present day railroads and highways are based on information given to the early whites by the Indian, and particularly by the Iroquois Indian. A far … Read more

The Forest Theater, Ticonderoga, New York

Near the shore of Lake Champlain stands a beautiful pine and hemlock grove, the site of an ancient Indian village. Here, every August, is held an Indian pageant based on the lives of famous Six Nation Chiefs and warriors. This Indian pageant has grown from a handful of actors to a cast of as high as a hundred and twenty five. Thousands of people travel many miles to see these pageants. As they watch the actors they are taken back to the days when the Six Nations held sway over the beautiful Ticonderoga Region. The festival owes its birth and … Read more

The Coming Of The Mohawks, Thendinaga Reservation, Ontario, Canada

At the Tyendinaga Mohawk Reservation, near the city of Deseronto, Ontario Canada, is a monument erected in honor of the Mohawks. The inscription reads as follows: “The coming of the Mohawks – Commemorating the arrival here on the 22nd of May, 1784, under leadership of Chiefs, John Deserontou, Aaron Hill, and Isaac Hill, of a band of loyal Mohawks, one of the nations of the Iroquois Confederacy expelled from their homes in the Mohawk Valley, for their fidelity to the Empire.” Leaving Thandinaga, the Mohawks turned their faces north and soon were at their homes on the Akwesasne ‘St. Regis’ … Read more

Thayendanegea, Captain Joseph Brant

Thayendanegea ‘Two Sticks of Wood Bound Together-denoting strength’ was a Mohawk Pine Tree Chief. He was born in 1742 on the banks of the Ohio River while his parents were on a hunting trip in that section. His home was at Canajoharie Castle in the Mohawk Valley of New York State. Thayendanegea was 13 years old when he went on his first war path. He joined the Mohawk warriors under Aroniateka or Chief Hendrick at the Battle of Lake George in 1755. He later attended Dr. Wheelock’s School at Lebanon, Conn., where he learned to read and write. Read a … Read more

Skenandoah’s Grave, Hamilton College, Clinton, New York

Heading southwest out of Utica, and still following the Central Trail of the Six Nations, the Akwesasne Warriors headed for Hamilton College near the little village, of Clinton It was here that the great Oneida Chief, Skenandoah, is buried, and the region that they were now in was the territory of the ancient Oneida nation, the land deeded to by the Great Spirit. In the Hamilton College Cemetery the warriors saw a large head-stone where the remains of Skenandoah were transferred in 1856 so that he might lie next to his white brother, Samuel Kirkland, the founder of the College. … Read more

Sir William Johnson, Johnstown, New York

Sir William Johnson was the first official representative of the British Crown to the Iroquois Confederacy. This man, strong in body and friendly in manner, attended and showed an interest in the Mohawk Councils. He also took an active part in the Indian sports and games and learned the Mohawk language. Johnson’s fair dealing with the Six Nations became recognized by the Confederacy. His appointment as Superintendent of Six Nation Affairs, won the approval of the Chiefs, Warriors and Women of the Six Nations. Colonel Johnson was given the highest honour the Six Nations could give a leader or chief. … Read more

Seneca Indian Village Site of Kanadesaga

From Canoga the warriors headed north to the Great Trail and then west to the City of Geneva. At Geneva, Mr. Robert Breed, a member of the Geneva Historical society and a friend of the Indian People, personally took the warriors to several ancient Seneca village sites and memorials among which were the following: At the White Springs Farm they visited the site of the main village of the Senecas known as Ganechtage. Here they saw the ancient Indian Springs known as The White Springs. This water supply was the reason for the location of this old village. As the … Read more

Seneca Council House, Letchworth Park, New York

Inscription: This ancient Seneca Council House stood at Ga-o-ya-de-a ‘Where the Heavens Rest Upon the Earth’ on the Genesee River in days antedating the American Revolution. In it gathered the war parties ‘that fought in the defense of their country.’ Before it prisoners ran the gauntlet. Around its council fires sat famous warriors and chiefs. It was rededicated Oct. 1, 1872 by the last Indian Council of the Genesee.” At this council Ga-yeh-twa-geh ‘Nicholson Parker’ gave the opening address which was as follows: “Brothers: I will say a few words. We have come here as representatives of the Seneca Nation … Read more

Red Jacket Monuments

From the ancient site of Cayuga Castle the Mohawks turned north to the head of the lake. Following the road that once was an Indian trail down the west side of Cayuga Lake, they arrived at Canoga, the site of an ancient Indian village which Indian tradition says was the birthplace of the famous orator Red Jacket. Here on Canoga Creek once stood the village of Skannayutenate, birthplace of Sa-go-ye-wat-ha, the famous Seneca leader. On this ancient village site the warriors saw a monument erected to Red Jacket. The monument contained a picture of a wolf, the clan of Red Jacket … Read more

Red Jacket Monument, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, New York

Red Jacket, Sagoyewatha, or Keeper Awake

Much has been said of the speaking ability of this noted Indian. A good example of one of his famous speeches was one that was delivered to a missionary named Cram who visited the Senecas, in 1805. This missionary requested a council with the Senecas, claiming that he had an important message to deliver to them. When the people had assembled, Cram gave a speech in which he told the Indians that they had never worshipped God in a decent manner but that they and their fathers had been in great darkness and error. He informed them that he had … Read more

Oneida Tribal Stone, Utica, New York

The tribal name of the Oneida Nation, one of the nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, is Tiioneniote ‘There it is, a Rock has Set up’. They the Oneidas’ are known as The People of the Upright Stone. In ancient days there appeared near their main village a large granite boulder. When later they moved their village, they were surprised to find that this boulder had followed them and was resting near the new village. This strange thing happened several times and they soon regarded the Stone as a sacred monument, a guardian of their nation and people, their Tribal Guardian. … Read more

Oneida Chief Shikellamy

With To-re-wa-wa-kon ‘Paul Wallace’ as a guide, the Mohawks headed over a road, that once was an Indian trail, toward the north. Their route was over a beautiful country of hills and valleys. With their friend they soon reached the beautiful Susquehanna River Valley. At Sunbury, Pa. they visited the site of the cabin of old Chief Shikellamy. It was here that the great Oneida chief, the overseer of Vice-Gerent of the Delaware and other refugee Indians of the region lived. This was where his village, Shamokin, was located and where be spent most of his time from 1728 to … Read more

Monuments To Six Nation Indians

One early dawn of the Moon of New Grass a group of young Awkesasne warriors started on a tour through the eastern country, their destination, every known marker or important monument erected to Six Nation Indians. The young Mohawks did not travel on foot as did their ancient forefathers. They traveled by car upon hard paved highways, that traced the well worn paths of the old Iroquois.

Monument to Onondaga Indians, Syracuse, New York

Leaving the Onondaga Reservation the warriors turned north for the City of Syracuse. In a park beside one of their main streets near the New York Central Railroad, the warriors saw a small stone memorial. This was erected by the citizens of Syracuse in honour of the Onondaga Indians who saved the early white settlers of that city from death by hunger and sickness. The stone bore the inscription: Monument to Onondaga Indians, Syracuse, New York To the Onondaga Indians: In 1793 out of a total population of thirty-three inhabitants in the Village of Salina, thirty persons were sick. The remaining … Read more

Monument to Kaniatario, Handsome Lake, at Onondago Reservation

In 1735 at the Seneca Indian Town of Conawagus on the Genesee River there was born an Indian boy who was later to become one of the greatest Indian Prophets and teachers of recent historical date. This Seneca was later given the office of a chief of the Turtle Clan with the title of Kaniatario or Handsome Lake. As a young man Handsome Lake was everything but a religious teacher. He was a habitual drinker of the white man’s fire water and more than once returned from the towns of the invader under the influence of the white man’s curse. … Read more

Monument To Guyanoga, Guyanoga Valley, New York

This monument to Chief Guyanoga, located in Village of Guyanoga near Branchport was unveiled on August 27, 1910 at the first annual Jerusalem Farmers’ Picnic held at the four corners in Guyanoga Valley. It was to Commemorate the character of the chief after whom the valley was named. The wigwam of Chief Guyanoga was situated on the land of Fraud Botsford near this point. Guyanoga was known as one of the great men of the Seneca Nation and was in favor of the cause of the colonies during the Revolution. He was known to have rendered important services to General … Read more

Monument To Deh-He-Wa-Mis (Mary Jemison) At Letchworth Park, New York

Mary Jemison was taken as a captive by a band of Seneca Indians at March Creek, Pennsylvania in 1776. She was carried down the Ohio River where she was adopted into a Seneca Indian family. In 1759 she moved with the Senecas to the Genesee River Country. She was aged 91 years when she died, Sept. 13, 1833. When offered her freedom, this white woman refused, preferring to live and die with her Seneca People. On one occasion she said, that the life of the old time Indian, before he was given liquor and crowded by the white man, was … Read more

Monument To Canesque, A Seneca Chief, Naples, New York

At the end of beautiful Canandaigua Lake, one of the Finger Lakes of New York State, in the region of Bare Hill, sacred mountain of the Senecas, rest the bones of an old Seneca Chief. Over his remains stands a stone upon which is the following inscription: “Canesque, Chief of the Senecas at Nundawee Village, who came from the Genesee Reservation in 1794 to die and be buried in his beloved Kiandaga Valley.” As the Mohawks looked at this place they realized that this land, the place from whence the Senecas sprung from Mother Earth, was sacred ground. Heading north … Read more