The intricate relationship between tribal nations and the United States has a long history that predates the U.S. Constitution. Undergirded by a number of treaties that collectively recognize the sovereignty of tribal nations, the relationship is, at its best, one of nation-to-nation engagement. Yet the history of nation-to-nation engagement has been a troubled one, marked by unfulfilled commitments and deep disagreements about how treaties apply, to whom, and when. Today, we explore a selection of the treaties that have defined relations between tribal nations and the State of New York.
We look specifically at the history of relations with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and particularly the Treaty of Canandaigua, a pivotal document that shapes our understanding of sovereignty, land rights, and cultural preservation. This blog post aims to provide a small window perspective on Haudenosaunee-U.S. relations, with no claims to being exhaustive.
Prior Treaties
The Treaty of Cananadaigua was one of a series of treaties between the United States and the Haudenosaunee. Before Cananadaigua was signed in 1794, two other treaties were established. The first was the Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1784). This was a foundational agreement between President George Washington’s delegation and the Haudenosaunee. Seeking peace, the treaty outlined separate sovereignties for both parties. Federal boundary lines were established to prevent further settlements and conflicts. A second treaty, the Treaty of Fort Harmer (1789), reaffirmed the sovereignties of both the Haudenosaunee and the United States. Emphasizing federal boundary lines and principles of peace and friendship, this treaty played a significant role in shaping the evolving dynamics between the parties.
