Partnering with

Chief Oren Lyons at the UN

"Iroquois Power for the 21st Century"

June 15, 2025 at 7pm

13 Charles Bach Rd.
Saugerties, NY 12477

       This is a free film event. We serve vegetarian sandwiches, desserts and drink during intermission. A seven episode extravaganza exclusively from the Iroquois point of view. In 1978 filmmaker Nathan Koenig heard and captured a most powerful, mindful speech at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. The orator was Onondaga Faithkeeper Oren Lyons.

       When Woodstock Museum founder Shelli Lipton was introduced to this speech, she joined the effort to learn about Haudensaunee aka Iroquois governing under the Great Law of Peace, the confederacy of Five Nations who agreed to stop warring and fighting among themselves and achieve a new paradigm of peace. Eventually a Sixth Nation joined the confederacy and became instrumental in helping the American Revolutionaries.

       Nathan and Shelli followed their instinct expanding the film with Iroquois scholars, historians, imagery collected via museums, libraries and private collections to add visual power by conveying the story with outstanding visuals. The United States Founding Fathers were so impressed with Haudensaunnee government they invited these Native Americans to be consultants to teach them about a Constitution and Bill of Rights which helped shape the U.S. Constitution. The Haudensaunee were honored with deeded territory in the park across from Independence Hall complete with the original Liberty Bell.

       The shocking part of this historical story is how the United States fell short in adding some of these laws. That's why we are a troublesome divided nation these days.