First Nations

Chapter 1: I. Native Peoples of America, to 1500 Hiawatha was in depths of despair Five American nations known as Iroquois engaged in endless cycle of violence Fought one another & neighboring villages attacked relentlessly Tried restoring peace in own Onondaga nation when evil sorcerer caused deaths of his seven daughters Grief-stricken & wonders into forest Hiawatha series of visions First, a flock of ducks fly up from the lake & take the water with them. Hiawatha walked onto dry lakebed gather purple & white shells Saw shells called wampum: symbolic ?words? of condolence (sympathy) When properly presented, strings of wampum beads could soothe anyone?s grief, no matter how deep