During
the time when the revitalization movement, there are numerous Prophets that
sprung up in the revitalization movement that seeks to reunite the Natives and
reconnecting them to the old Native American spirituality that they once had
prior to the European colonization. One of the prophets that was well-known
throughout history was the IroquoisÕ prophet Handsome Lake where he spread the
message of peace to all those that listened. But what was the message of peace
and how did it prompt many Indians to make peace with the brutalities that
whites have against the Indians? In examining the IroquoisÕs belief system, the
messages that are taught by Handsome Lake, and the reaction from both the
whites and the Indians, one will find his philosophy is a syncreticisim of the
whiteÕs philosophy and the IndiansÕ and his thinking was not a new invention
that was given by the divine, rather it is a subjective experience that he
learns from both cultures at the time.
In
examining the society of the Iroquois prior to the revitalization movement and
from the beginning of their formation, one found that the Iroquois was one of
the Native American confederation that is thriving on the value of friendship
and other elements of a civilization. However, from the day that war began to
ravage the confederation, one of
the question remain is how did they still remain connected as a confederate
despite all the competing interest among the Natives in the confederate on how
to deal with the Whites that are settling increasingly on the land.
Furthermore, how does the message of Handsome Lake actually caught the
attention of the confederate in such a way that still help them remain
connected after their ÒdeathÓ in Seneca.
Primary Source
1.
Parker, Arthur. "The Code of Handsome Lake, the Seneca
Prophet." Code of
Handsome Lake Index. 1 Jan. 1913. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/iro/parker/index.htm>.
This translated
primary source is one of the original translated version of the teachings that
is being used by Handsome Lake. It gives people at the time an overview of what
was Handsome LakeÕs messages to the Iroquois. In giving a speech about the
visions Handsome lake sees in relation to the IroquoisÕs belief, the goal of
the code of Handsome Lake is to capture the audienceÕs reverence for the
traditional culture before European colonization.
2.
Curtin, Jeremiah, and J. N. B. Hewitt. Seneca Fiction, Legends, and Myths.
Washington: [G.P.O.], 1918. Print
The Seneca Fiction,
legends, and Myths is a primary source that also recreates some of the
fictional tales the Iroquois teach in their religion and the values of the
tales. Through learning about the values that is taught, the research paper
will then examine how it creates the Iroquois the way they are and why Handsome
Lake have success in persuading the Iroquois for whiteÕs acculturation.
3.
Vattel, Emer De, and Joseph Chitty. The Law of Nations, Or, Principles
of the Law of Nature, Applied to the Conduct and Affairs of Nations and
Soverigns. Philadelphia: T. & J.W. Johnson, 1852. Print.
The Laws of Nation is
a primary source and philosophical book that is made by a French author Vattel
in explaining his theories on what makes a sustainable community or society.
When one have a clear picture of what is a sustainable community through
observations like Vattel, one can see how they function and why.
4.
Powers, Mabel. Stories
the Iroquois Tell Their Children. New York: American Book, 1917. Print.
The document that is
presented in the book illustrates the oral traditional tales that the Iroquois
have passed down to future generations. Just like the stories that is
illustrated in Seneca Fiction, Legends, and Myths, the goal of using such
primary sources is to clarify how the Iroquois orally transmit their cultural
values to young generations.
5.
Myrtle, Minnie. The
Iroquois. New York: D. Appleton, 1855. Print.
This book is also a
primary source literature on the teachings the Iroquois in terms of creating
society. Furthermore, the source also gives a primary source view on how the
whites view Indians through the historical events that affected their point of
view on war and society.
Secondary Sources
1.
Wallace, Anthony F. C., and Sheila C. Steen. The Death and Rebirth of the
Seneca,. New York: Knopf, 1970. Print.
The book is the
illustration and slight interpretation of the history of the Iroquois and some
of the elements that Handsome Lake use during his time of living and how does
the tradition have an impact on his philosophy when Handsome Lake start
preaching his teachings to the Iroquois. Through such understanding, one can
get a clear picture of how such preacher can actually persuade the followers to
actually acculturate the whiteÕs culture.
2.
Myers, David G. Social
Psychology. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993. Print.
The textbook on
social psychology gives readers a modern background in the science on how some
people, both in the past and the present, do things the way they do due to the
society that they live in. Through his research, one will attempt to gain a
better understanding of how Handsome Lake was shaped by the society he lived in
and how he, in return, shape the society that shaped him for further adaptation
to their new environment.
3.
Mann,
Barbara A. "The Lynx In Time: Haudenosaunee Women's Traditions And
History." American Indian Quarterly21.3 (1997):
423-449. Bibliography of Native North Americans. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
The encyclopedia
source is the summary of the traditional belief system of the Iroquois before
the time of the European colonization and how such beliefs have an impact on
how the Iroquois held council during meetings and some of their customs. Thus,
in explaining such tradition through a summary of the tales that relates to the
customs that they have, the source will enable readers get a clear background
knowledge of the Iroquois.