Throughout the Onondaga and Haudenosaunee’s history, we have made agreements with other nations. Before the coming of our white brothers, the Haudenosaunee made agreements with our bordering native nations. After our first contact, we began to make agreements with our new neighbors, the Dutch, French and English. These agreements/treaties that the Onondaga and Haudenosaunee made included Gustenta’ or the Two Row Wampum sets forth how the Haudenosaunee and its new neighbors plan to live together.
Listed below are three treaties that the Haudenosaunee made with the United States; the Treaty of Ft. Stanwix, the Treaty of Ft. Harmer, and the Canandaigua Treaty. Each treaty was ratified by both the United States government and by the Haudenosaunee. The Treaty of Canandaigua replaced most of the specific agreements of the Treaty of Fort Harmer, but the treaties remain valid treaties, and the agreements reached are still binding today.
Treaty of Fort Stanwix 1784
At the treaty of Fort Stanwix, the newly formed United States and the Haudenosaunee met to discuss the quarreling occurring between the two nations. President George Washington sent a delegation to ask for peace. In this Treaty, it affirmed the following:
That the Haudenosaunee and the United States are two separate sovereign nations.
Federal boundary lines were established to prevent further settlements by the American frontiersmen.
The oral history of this agreement states that land given up to the United States would generate money that would guarantee the Haudenosaunee and its people not to pay taxes. In the exchange for the new boundary, it was undrestood that the Haudenosaunee’s Education and Health will be provided for.
Treaty of Fort Harmer 1789
At the treaty of Fort Harmer, the United States and the Haudenosaunee met again to discuss the continuing quarreling occurring between the two nations. In this Treaty, it affirmed the following:
It re-affirmed that the Haudenosaunee and the United States are 2 separate sovereign nations.
Federal boundary lines were re-affirmed to prevent further loss of land.
That there will be peace and friendship between the 2 nations.
The Canandaigua Treaty of 1794
In the fall of 1794 at Canandaigua NY, the United States and the Haudenosaunee met again to discuss the continuing quarreling occurring between the two nations. This Treaty signed on November 11, 1794, it affirmed the following:
It re-affirmed that the Haudenosaunee and the United States are 2 separate sovereign nations.
Federal boundary lines were adjusted to prevent further loss of land in Seneca Territory.
That there will be peace and friendship between the 2 nations.
Article 7 was established as a way of settling disputes between Native and non-native individuals on the other’s territory.
See President Bill Clinton’s letter commemorating the Canandaigua Treaty