♪ ♪

(singing in native language)

NARRATOR: The story recorded
in this belt

tells of a warrior
named Hiawatha,

who meets a prophet
known as the Peacemaker.

(singing continues)

♪ ♪

MAN (speaking native language):

(fires crackling)

(waves lapping)

G. PETER JEMISON: The story goes
that he came up with a way

of helping a person who was in
grief by using this wampum

to clear their eyes, open their
ears, clear their throat

so they could speak clearly.

(singing continues)

NARRATOR: Using the purity
of shells

to bring a person to a clear
state of mind

is called
the Condolence Ceremony.

It was invented by Hiawatha,

and the Haudenosaunee
still practice it today.

♪ ♪

MAN (speaking native language):

(men fighting)

TOM PORTER: He was a sorcerer.

He had supernatural powers.

He could communicate with the
birds and rattlesnakes

and wolves in the animal world,

and they would help him.

He was a mean, mean man--
his name was Tadodaho.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: To convince Tadodaho
to join the new confederacy,

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker seek
a powerful ally.

A woman named Jigonsaseh.

VIRGINIA L. ABRAMS: Jigonsaseh
was the first clan mother.

She helped bring peace to the
Iroquois, to the Haudenosaunee.

NARRATOR: The Peacemaker strikes
a deal with her.

If she can stop the war,
she can choose the chiefs.

(flames crackling)

MAN (speaking native language):

NARRATOR: Jigonsaseh transforms
Tadodaho's mind,

and he abandons war.

With the final obstacle
overcome,

the Peacemaker assembles
representatives of each nation.

MAN (speaking native language):

NARRATOR: Under a total eclipse
of the sun,

the Peacemaker holds
the newly woven Hiawatha belt,

and with the nations gathered
beneath the tree of peace,

he speaks the law of peace
for the first time.

MAN (speaking native language):

♪ ♪