1. Do Now Get your Lit book from the back of the room
Take out your notebook for Lit class

2. Do Now
In the past, when stories were passed down by oral tradition, what qualities were necessary for the speaker to have to keep the audience entertained?
Who is responsible in your family for passing down the family’s stories, and what is one of your favorite stories?

3. Iroquois Constitution

4. Iroquois Constitution
During the 14th Century, an Iroquoian mystic and prophet named Dekanawidah traveled from village to village urging the Iroquois to band together and stop fighting.
His efforts led to the formation of the Iroquois Federation of the Five Nations, a league of five Iroquois tribes:

5. Iroquois Constitution
5 tribes: Mohawk, Oneida, Seneca, Cayuga, and Onondaga.
These tribes were democratic.
They still exist today as self-governing bodies.

6. Iroquois Constitution – Oral Tradition
In cultures without a written language, the oral tradition captures a group’s ideals.
Stories, poems, and songs convey a people’s values by word of mouth.

7. Iroquois Constitution
As you read, note what the culture values, fears or determines to be important enough to pass down to its next generation.
Literature mirrors the culture that produces it. As you read, recognize cultural details by noticing references to objects, animals, or practices that signal how the people of a culture live, think or worship.

8. Iroquois Constitution: get ready to read
Create your own constitution:
What needs to be “added to the rafters” to improve relations in our school?
Come up with at least three rules and write these down in your notebook. Be ready to explain why you feel these are necessary.

9. Iroquois Constitution: Guiding Questions
How would this visual description on page 24 facilitate the oral transmission of this constitution?
Use textual evidence for your support.
Why does the use of the visual detail you listed from the text help the oral relay of the story?
Majestic tree represents unity, goodness among the Five Nations

10. Guiding Questions
The details also help the speaker remember the story? Which details would help the speaker remember the text?
Word choice and descriptive language help the transmission of the constitution.
words like gratitude, maize, fruits, thanks to the earth where men dwell, streams and water, animals that serve as food, Creator who reveal his wishes.

11. Guiding Questions
On page 25, what does the speaker say is the nature of the Great White Roots?
Use textual support for your answer
Peace and strength

12. Guiding Questions
Look at the picture, what cultural values are conveyed in the picture?
Strength, determination, and pride
How are these traits related to the values and ideas set forth in the Iroquois Constitution?
Use textual support for your answer
A leader needs to be respectful, kind, have patience and wisdom. A leader also needs inner strength.

13. Guiding Questions
At the top of page 26, what can you learn about the Iroquois culture from the items mentioned here?
Use textual support for your answer
The Iroquois show deep respect for the principles of just leadership.

14. Classwork
If you were the chief of a Native American nation, would this speech persuade you to join the Confederation? Explain why or why not, using textual evidence from the Iroquois Constitution.

15. Homework: Answer each of the following questions using textual evidence as support for your response.
1. What do the lords plant to commemorate their meeting?
They plant the Tree of Great Peace.
(opening paragraph when Dekanawidah plans the tree of great peace)

16. Homework: Answer each of the following questions using textual evidence as support for your response.
2. What do the roots of the plants symbolize?
The roots symbolize strength and peace.
“their nature is peace and strength” page 24.

17. Homework: Answer each of the following questions using textual evidence as support for your response.
3. According to the constitution, what must confederate lords do to open a council meeting?
They should thank one another and “offer thanks to the earth where men dwell.”

18. Homework: Answer each of the following questions using textual evidence as support for your response.
4. What does this decree about opening a council meeting suggest about the Iroquois?
They respect their environment and are conscious of their dependence on the earth.

19. Homework: Answer each of the following questions using textual evidence as support for your response.
5. What three images from nature does Dekanawidah use in the Constitution?
Image of the tree of the long leaves and its roots, the eagle and the council fire.

20. Homework: Answer each of the following questions using textual evidence as support for your response.
6. What do these references tell you about the Iroquois?
They are interested in a rooted union that shelters its members, is vigilant against threats and welcomes new members.

21. Homework: Answer each of the following questions using textual evidence as support for your response.
7. Summarize the qualities and conduct required of council lords by the Iroquois Constitution.
A lord must be honest, slow to anger, full of peace, good will, and concern for the welfare of his people. (compassion)

22. Homework: Answer each of the following questions using textual evidence as support for your response.
8. How well do these qualities apply to leaders in the modern world? Give specific examples from today.