The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-11-03
INDIAN LORE FOR LONDON.
information on lroquois Customs
Given by a Mohawk chieftain.

1iVen py MonaWk CnleItdln'
Among London's interesting visi-
tors today is a blue blooded chief Of
the Mohawk Indians, the head of the
Bear clan. the tribe whose exploits
have been immortaliEed by Fenimore
Cooper. His name is Thanakarlner,
and he follows the profession of a
man of medicine. His fine physique,
his swarthy complexion and HIS rath-
er striking attire render him con-
spicuous.
Out of Difference to English custom
the Mohawk celebrity had shed his
buckskin and feathers for navy
blue suit and white wastcoat when
he was interviewed by representa-
tive, says the London Daily Chron.
icle. In response to the usual greet.
ing he remarked: "Devedon hnon,
yanih donh, nyawean," which is
Caniengahaka, the Mohawk tongue,
and signifies Extremely we'll, thank
YOU"
BY upbringing the chieftain is In
sympathy with the suffragists. He
had much to say about the influence
and authority of women in the Mo.
hawk land There they rule the
roast. They select the chiefs of our
clans" Thanakarineh said. "The men
are not consulted in the matter at
ALL | myself was chosen by the wo-
mems coIncil--a representative body
of the various clans such as The
Bear, The Wolf and The Turtle.
There is no such thing as my title
being handed down from sire to son.
If one of the present chiefs dies the
Indies assemble in council and nomi-
nate a successor, who seldom is the
son of the dead hero. They cast
about for that Mohawk who is ply
sically and mentally fittest for the
distinction, and so long as he is of
the clan he is proclaimed its chief
This matriarchal system has OBJ
tanned among the Mohawk Indians
for generations, and not the slightest
demur is ever made by those who
fancy their claims have been over
looked. If militant agitation
against the rule of Indian squaws
arose there would be seen the coun-
terpart of the suffragist demonstra-
tions in London
The Mohawks are one of the six
tribes who inhabit the Six Nation
Indian Reserve-a territory of $4,000
acres In Ontario. Canada. on the
banks of the Grand River, lying sew
enty-fVe miles west of the Niagara
Falls and about forty miles north of
Lake Erie. The five other tribes are
the Senecas, oneidas, Cayugas, On
ondagas, and the Delawares and
Tuscaroras, the last being taken in
out of charity" as the chief put it,
One of the chiefs is named lIayatha.
But II the women select and appoint
the chiefs, the latter administer the
laws. They seldom make new enact
ments and their Council is something
like a House of Lords, because each
chieftain has the same status among
his tribe as an English earl. The
Council consists of about nine repre-
sentatives of each tribe and meets
/
| Speaker. The system is on pure
ly democratic basis OF absolute equal
ity.
Sometimes the legislators assemble
in full war paint. and with the pomp
and circumstance attending their
| position
Mr.. Brant-Sero, an English speak
ing Mohawk Indian of the Turtle
clan, who accompanied the chief. ad-
ded the opinion that the decorum
and dignity Of the Chieftain's Coun-
Gil would put TO shame some of the
uproarious proceedings he had wit
messed in England. There are no
lawyers in his Utopian land. 1T is
regarded as contemplate profess
sion, because II causes mischief and
| trouble over technical matters that
little common sense will smooth
over" he observed in explanation.
Chief Thanakarineh has adopted
the name &c. w. Hill" for the pur-
pose of his profession OF medicine.
1t was contrary to etiquette among
the Indian doctors, he said. TO boast
about their achievements, but he
modestly claimed to cure pneumonia
In half an hour. II mean," he ex-
planned, that in that time l can get
a patient out OF a crisis and on a
good way TO recovery" Although
preserving his secret. the wary chief
who, of course! is herballst-said
that he powdered only one root and
administered II with water.
Thanakarlneh's skill was noised
abroad and he was summoned by the
Ontario Medical Council for practis-
ing among whites without being
registered practitioner. He was An
ed, and unsuccessfully appealed
against the decision. So he came to
England to submit his case to the
Prlvy Council, who declined TO re-
open the matter. Thanakarlneh can
therefore only prescribe. 81 must not
feel the pulse" he said.