The Haudenosaunee Confederacy — Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora — is one of the oldest democracies on Earth. Built on peace, fairness, and the good mind, it endures despite land loss, forced removals, and erasure. This episode is a living declaration: we are still here.

In ancient times, the Peacemaker united warring nations by transforming Tadadaho — a feared, twisted leader — through a song of peace. From this came the Great Tree, its roots spreading in all directions, sheltering those who seek unity. The Great Law of Peace was born.

In 1493, the Doctrine of Discovery declared that non-Christian peoples had no title to their own land — only the right to occupy it like animals. This doctrine became U.S. law in 1823 and still shapes court decisions today. Most Americans don’t know. It’s time they did.

For the Haudenosaunee, lacrosse is more than sport. It is ceremony, identity, and healing — a gift from the Creator. From wooden sticks in cradles to world championships, Haudenosaunee athletes carry forward the original game, playing for their people and their sovereignty.

Often blamed on Native people, scalping began in Europe, where bounties were paid for heads, ears, and finally locks of hair. The Haudenosaunee wore scalp locks as a challenge — a mark of defiance and survival in times of brutal colonial warfare.

The Haudenosaunee were warned of coming changes: violent storms, poisoned waters, fire in rivers. Today, these prophecies echo in climate crisis and ecological collapse. The last mandate is clear — protect the Earth for future generations, or lose it all.

Global warming, melting glaciers, unstoppable beetles. The message is simple: you cannot negotiate with nature. The Haudenosaunee call for a shift in values — away from profit and toward survival, balance, and responsibility to the seventh generation.

An ancient gathering place, Where the Willows Meet the Water was once pure and life-giving. Today, its beaches close for toxic algae, its creatures drink poison without knowing. This episode confronts what we’ve done to water — and what we must restore.