Deganawida 1550–1600
A Man Who Believed in Peace
His name was Deganawida (duh gah nuh WEE duh). His people, the Haudenosaunee (haw deh noh SAW nee), called him the Peacemaker. Born in the mid-1550s, he lived at a time when the Haudenosaunee nations fought among themselves. This troubled Deganawida. As an adult, he traveled among the nations, encouraging people to live in peace.
A leader named Hiawatha (hy uh WAHTH uh) helped the Peacemaker. Together they talked to the nations about uniting in peace. Five Haudenosaunee nations decided to stop fighting and join together. The Peacemaker and Hiawatha helped them form a new government called the Iroquois League. (Iroquois was another name for the Haudenosaunee.) The Iroquois League became a strong force for peace and prosperity. Today, the Haudenosaunee government continues to protect its people. The beloved story of Deganawida has become a legend.
Critical Thinking
What effect did Deganawida have on Haudenosaunee life?