HIAWATHA

The Native American teaching particularly as exposed by Hiawatha, founder of the great Iroquois League of Peace, had a tremendous influence on Benjamin Franklin. Many of the ideas of Hiawatha became incorporated into our constitution. Franklin said: "The colonist should accept the Iroquois advice to form a union under a common federal government. " See," said they, "divided a single man may destroy you. United you are a match for the whole world."

We are one, we are one,
Hiawatha's song shall be sung
We are sisters, we are brothers,
we are children of the mother
we are one, we are one upon the medicine

Once upon the medicine wheel the sacred
hoop, the karmic reel
Deganawidah taught a brave to heal the
warrior wounds of war
"Hiawatha," he implored, "bring my peace to all nations"
and for 12 generations
The Great Spirits ways walked the land
and the peace tree he planted still stands

We are one, we are one,
Hiawatha's song shall be sung
We are sisters, we are brothers,
we are children of the mother
we are one, we are one upon the medicine

Hiawatha smoked the great peace pipe
seven rings reached heaven's heights
where the thunder bird spread her wings
and the hummingbird began to sing.
Yellow, black, red and white
the rainbow tribes of man unites
and the Great Spirit's ways walked the land
and the peace tree he planted still stands
He brought a new order for the ages
And the bloody war painted pages
of history, made way for unity