Description: In Seven Generations of Iroquois Leadership, Laurence M. Hauptman traces the past 200 years of the Six Nations' history through the lens of the remarkable leaders who shaped it. Focusing on the distinct qualities of Iroquois leadership, Hauptman reveals how the Six Nations have survived in the face of overwhelming pressure. Celebrated figures such as Governor Blacksnake, Cornelius Cusick, and Deskaheh are juxtaposed with less well-known but nonetheless influential champions of Iroquoian culture and sovereignty such as Dinah John. Hauptman's survey includes over thirty contemporary women, highlighting the important role female leaders have played in Iroquois survival throughout history to the present day. The book offers historical and contemporary portraits of leaders from all six Iroquois nations and all regions of modern-day Iroquoia.
Brief description: Laurence M. Hauptman is SUNY Distinguished Professor of History at the State University of New York at New Paltz. He is the author of many books and articles on Native American studies, including Conspiracy of Interests: Iroquois Dispossession and the Rise of New York State and The Iroquois in the Civil War: From Battlefield to Reservation, both published by Syracuse University Press.
Review Quotes: Superbly written. . . . Laurence Hauptman has produced a comprehensive study of modern Iroquois history since 1800. . . . This is a major work whose insights will be welcomed by all who are serious about American Indian history.-- "Donald Fixico, author of Rethinking American Indian History"