Who is known as the Peacemaker in Haudenosaunee history?

• A. Hiawatha
• B. Susque
• C. Deganawida
• D. Teios

Answer: (C)

Deganawida is known as the Peacemaker because he is the prophetic figure who imagined and proclaimed a peaceful union for the warring Haudenosaunee nations, guiding them to form the Great Law of Peace. He traveled among communities with a message of harmony and a new way of governing, laying the foundation for the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. He didn’t act alone—Hiawatha helped carry the message and organize people to adopt the new system—but Deganawida is the one credited with initiating the peace and shaping the vision of a united league. The confederacy brought together the original five nations—Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca—and later included the Tuscarora, all governed by a council guided by consensus and balance among the nations. Names like Hiawatha are closely tied to the peace process, but the title of Peacemaker belongs to Deganawida. The other options aren’t recognized as the figure associated with initiating the peace in Haudenosaunee history.