His presentation was part of the Museum's Distinguished Lecturer Series. The following is synopsis of his talk written by Dr. John Ferguson.
Political systems use metaphors.
The League itself for example, was a giant abstract longhouse that extended across upstate New York. Chiefs were said to be like posts that supported that house. Physically, the longhouse was a multi-family residence containing the extended matrilineal family with a senior woman as the leader of a clan segment. It was physically and symbolically an important structure. Longhouses were used usually for only a decade or two.