#oronhyatekha

[carbombrenee]

Oronhyatekha (1841 - 1907): Mohawk chief, physician, and orator

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Indians Count Moons To Set History Dates Long Before Columbus,” Toronto Globe. January 27, 1932. Page 11. ---- Perhaps the ‘dark ages’ were not always quite dark. At least, the Indians on this continent had their own manner of counting time.

We have long been told by the histories that the centuries of Indian occupation of this continent were uncounted, vague, and indefinite. For example, the date of the formation of the Iroquois Confederacy, in what is now New York State, was uncertain. This confederacy has sometimes been described as the first League of Nations. Additional interest attaches for Canadians because the Six Nations, as they later became known, moved over into Canada with the Loyalists after the American Revolution and have ever since been loyal citizens.

One of the tribes was the Mohawks, and a visitor to Toronto this week was one of the prominent women of this tribe, Mrs. H. A. Brant, of the Deseronto Reserve, herself a direct descendant of Joseph Brant, Chief of the Mohawks, for years before his death in 1807. Mrs. Brant, whose maiden name was Teresa Brant, and whose father, a great-grandson of Joseph Brant, still lives on the Deseronto Reserve, married R. A. Brant, who is not related to the original chieftain.

During her visit to this part of Ontario, for the first time in her life, Mrs. Brant was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. W. Nelson Campbell, 214 Glennir Avenue, Forest Hill. To a party of friends, she read  a paper which traced the history of the Mohawks, in some detail, with information derived from tribal tradition rather than printed books. One of her most interesting statements was that the Iroquois Confederacy was formed in 1390. As that year was more than a century before the discovery of America by Columbus, and long before clocks, almanacs, and other means of computing time were available on this continent, Mrs. Brant was asked to explain.

‘Oh, this came down to us through tradition. Our tribe counted time by the number of moons, and the year 1390 was reached through counting back the number of moons.’

A group of local historians heard the news with surprise and delight. Selwyn P. Griffin, author of ‘Open Secrets,’ in which Iroquois lore is presented, said:

‘I should say the date of the formation of the Confederacy was about 1450, but if Mrs. Brant says 1390, I would not contradict her. She should know more about it than we should, especially in view of the traditions in her tribe. It is unlikely that any one can settle this date, and she is as likely to be correct as any one.’

Mrs. Brant, who is deeply interested in Mohawk history, displays a keen poetic touch in her prose and verse. She is proud of the record of her race, and recollects the satisfation felt by the Deseronto Mohawaks over a great Mohawk of modern times, Dr. Oronhyatekha, who was married to Ellen Hill, a great-granddaughter of Joseph Brant.

[abitmoredetail]

Sketch of Oronhyatekha. The Toronto World, August 27, 1897. If Oronhyatekha were alive today, he’d be considered an expert networker. He jokingly referred

I found it remarkable how a Mohawk in 19th century Canada, subject to so much state oppression, was able to achieve so much in the course of his life. What a remarkable man.