Origins & Early Life

Hiawatha, also known as Ayenwatha or Aiionwatha, was the cofounder of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy in what is now the eastern Great Lakes region of North America. He is believed to have lived in either the 12th or 15th century. He was a leader of either the Onondaga people, the Mohawk people, or both; according to some accounts, he was born an Onondaga but adopted into the Mohawks. Although Hiawatha was possibly a real person, he was mostly known through his legend.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The events in the legend have been dated to the middle 1100s through the occurrence of an eclipse coincident with the founding of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This material and quotations are taken from the Mohawk version of the legend, as related by the prominent chief Seth Newhouse (Dayodekane). For an Onondaga version of the legend, see Parker: "The Hiawatha Tradition". When the founder of the Confederacy, Dekanawidah, known as The Great Peacemaker, first came to Iroquoia, one of the first people he met was Hiawatha, not yet called by that name. At that time, Hiawatha was a wild man and a cannibal, known as "the man who eats humans." When Dekanawidah came to his cabin, he climbed onto the roof, looked...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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