Jigonhsasee - The Mother of Nations
Peacemaker
Born: Late 16th century; exact dates unknown.
Died: Late 16th century; exact dates unknown.
Jigonhsasee was a respected Iroquois woman whose guidance and hospitality made her a key figure in uniting the five nations and the establishment of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
Several hundred years ago, around the 12th century, the Iroquois people, who called themselves the Haudenosaunee, or “People of the Longhouse,” were divided into five nations: the Onondaga, Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca. Their land stretched from the Great Lakes in the west to what is now Albany, New York, in the east. Even though they shared a language and culture, the nations fought constant wars of revenge and land disputes.
Jigonhsasee (sometimes spelled Jikonhsaseh or Jikonsase and called “She Who Lives at the War-Road”) was an Iroquois woman who lived along a road used by warriors of the five nations. She welcomed all who passed, offering them food and shelter. Her home was one of the rare places where warriors from different nations could sit in peace. She also helped them talk through conflicts.
At this same time, two men from the Onondaga nation were calling for unity. One was the Great Peacemaker (also referred to as Deganawida or Dekanawida, though the Haudenosaunee avoid using his personal name as a mark of respect), who dreamed of ending the endless wars by forming one strong confederacy. Because he had a speech problem, he was joined by Hiawatha, who became his speaker and closest supporter.
The Great Peacemaker and Hiawatha (also known as Aiawatha) heard of Jigonhsasee’s reputation as a peacemaker and traveled to her home. There, the Great Peacemaker explained his vision: a single confederacy where people could live in peace, like families living together in a longhouse. Jigonhsasee liked the idea but wanted to know exactly how it would work. The Great Peacemaker said each nation would hold its own “seat” in the longhouse.

Because Jigonhsasee had already earned the trust of many tribes, the Great Peacemaker gave her the job of choosing the men who would represent each nation at the peace council. Hiawatha then took the plan to Tadodaho, the powerful Onondaga chief. Tadodaho at first refused. Jigonhsasee advised offering him the chairmanship of the council, and he agreed.
The nations came together and created the Great Law of Peace, an agreement that worked much like the United States Constitution would centuries later. This marked the birth of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The Great Peacemaker honored Jigonhsasee by calling her the “Mother of Nations.”
Between 1712 and 1722, the Tuscarora joined the alliance, making the Confederacy six nations strong. The Confederacy became one of the most important political and economic powers in North America. They made treaties, controlled trade routes, and influenced relationships with the Dutch, French, English, and other Native nations.
The Haudenosaunee’s system of representative government later inspired parts of the United States Constitution. Leaders like Benjamin Franklin admired their model, though Jigonhsasee’s central role in forming the Confederacy is not often taught.
Through her kindness, wisdom, and courage, Jigonhsasee helped bring peace to the warring nations. In the late 20th century, scientists honored her by naming one of the five mitochondrial DNA haplogroups found among Native Americans “Djigonasee.” Her legacy as a leader and peacemaker lives on today.
SOURCES:
Internet History Sourcebooks: Modern History, sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/iroquois.asp.
“The Iroquois Confederacy.” Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation, www.peacecouncil.net/NOON/markers/marker-iroqconf.html.
Mann, Barbara A. “The Lynx in time: Haudenosaunee women’s traditions and history.” American Indian Quarterly, vol. 21, no. 3, 1997, p. 423, https://doi.org/10.2307/1185516.
Keywords: Justice, Innovation, Courage, Generosity, Responsibility, Selflessness, Build Bridges to Unite, Make a Difference