Artist: Brad Bonaparte

First Treaty of North America

This belt symbolizes the agreement and conditions under which the Haudenosaunee welcomed the Europeans to this land. “You say that you are our Father and I am your son”, “We say we will not be like father and son, but as brothers.. as equals.”

The two rows on this belt will symbolize the paths of two boats on the same river, one path is for the non-native, their laws, customs, and their ways. The other path is for the Onkwehonweh, their laws, customs and way of life. We shall travel side by side but in our own boats, neither of us will try to steer the others’ vessels, or make laws or interfere in the internal affairs of the other.

The Onkwehonweh have kept to this agreement…