The Onondaga and the Haudenosaunee saw the colonists growing and uniting to become a new government called the United States of America. The name in its original language(s) has been given variously as "Caunotaucarius", "Conotocarious", "Hanodaganears", and "Hanadahguyus." It is translated as "Town Taker", "Burner of Towns", "Devourer of Villages", or "he destroys the town". Report on Canadian Archives . orA.I. The surviving Onondaga were homeless; some began to rebuild; some headed west to find shelter with their brother nations the Cayuga and Seneca. must know from you, whether you mean to leave us, and our children, any land to till. After some days he proposed to run a line at a small distance Eastward of our western boundary which we also refused to agree to. Town Destroyer will shed new light on our first president. (The Iroquois dubbed him "Town Destroyer.") Hundreds of Iroquois died of exposure to winter weather. CODE OF CONDUCT, Workshop: In Our Own Words: Poetry on Film. This line was established after the French and Indian War by King George as a boundary between the colonists and Native lands. On June 4, 1779, the General of the Revolutionary Army, George Washington, violated the treaty and ordered the invasion of the territory of the Iroquois confederation. Pennsylvania Archives. George Washington (February 22, 1732 - December 14, 1799) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America and served as the nation's first president (1789-1797). When you kindled your thirteen fires seperately, the wise men (The Iroquois dubbed him Town Destroyer.) But some present-day students, parents, and observers found those depictions racially offensive, calling for the work to be removed or destroyed. He loves peace, and all that he had in store he has given to those who have been robbed by your people, lest they should plunder the innocent to repay themselves: the whole season which others employed in providing for their families, he has spent in his endeavors to preserve peace. If art (or history) is altered to blunt painful truths, isnt that dishonesty, whether coming from the political left or right? The Land we live on our Fathers received from God, and they transmitted it to us, for our Children and we cannot part with it. Conotocaurius ( Town Destroyer, Seneca: Handaganyas) was a nickname given to George Washington by Iroquois peoples in 1753. . The last reason he assigned for continuing to refuse paying us was, that the King had ceded the lands to the thirteen fires and that he had bought them from you and paid you for them. Snitow & Deborah Kaufman Executive Producer Peggy . One commentary points out that by excluding the face of the Indian, the artist has respected the identity and the spirit of the dead person. But before we speak to you of this, we The British agent George Beckwith reported to Lord Dorchester from New York on the course of Streets mission, noting that The application of Mr. Street in behalf of the Indians of the Five Nations by means of Mr. Wadsworth has drawn a declaration from the President, expressive of his intentions to pay every attention to the Indians in general, and Mr. Street is assured by General Knox, that his business will be taken into immediate consideration. Beckwith subsequently reported, however, that Mr. Town Destroyer? George Washington for sure had that nickname. The documentary also provides a platform for experts about the representations and misrepresentations of Indians in American culture, including commercial advertisements and the names of military helicopters like Apache and Comanche to Barbie Dolls with feathers and beads. He paid us two thousand & five hundred dollars in hand part of the Ten thousand, and he sent for us last Spring to come and receive our money; but instead of paying us the remainder of the Ten Thousand dollars, and the one thousand dollars due for the first year, he offered us no more than five hundred dollars, and insisted he had agreed with us for that sum only to be paid yearly. Its like a midpoint betweenWall-Eand those old Disney True-Life Adventures, which manipulated nature footage into sentimental narrative shapes. We know that you are strong and we have heard that you are wise; and we wait to hear your answer to what we have said that we may know that you are just. It was impossible for us to grant him this and we immediately refused. Larger questions arose: Is arts purpose to provoke, or placate? "When your army entered the country of the Six Nations, we called you Hanadagyas (Town Destroyer): and to this day when that name is heard our women look behind them and turn pale, and our children cling close to the necks of their mothers. Chief Cornplanter, who headed the Seneca tribe of the Iroquois, stressed "And to this day when that name is heard, our women look behind them and turn pale, Newsletter We could bear this confusion no longer, & determined to press thro every difficulty, and lift up our voice that you might hear us, and to claim that security in the possession of our lands which your commissioners so solemly promised us, and we now entreat you to enquire into our complaints and redress our wrongs. But if Alan Snitow and Deborah Kaufman have their way, George Washington will also be remembered as the town destroyer. Thats the title of a new documentary that they have written, directed and produced about the controversial murals in San Francisco at George Washington High School. The following year, he received a letter. What is role of the artist in reflecting America to itself? While individual Iroquois tribes continued to launch raids over the next few years, the Revolutionary War broke the power of the Iroquois as a political unit. The political doesnt get any more personal than when it comes to abortion, and now thanks to an activist conservative Supreme Court, it appears the era of Roe v. Wadeand choicemay well be over. The name in its original language(s) has been Conotocaurius (Town Destroyer) was a nickname given to George Washington by Iroquois peoples in 1753. The issues reached a tipping point not long ago when the members of the San Francisco Board of Education listened to impassioned testimony and voted to cover up the murals. If you thought you could now talk calmly about Victor Arnautoff and his art, Americans Indians and George Washington, think again. But if Alan Snitow and Deborah Kaufman have their way, George Washington will also be remembered as "the town destroyer." That's the title of a new documentary that they have written,. Part of Colonial Williamsburg's "Prelude to Victory" weekend. 1.By GWs account the name Towntaker (variously rendered as Town-destroyer) was bestowed upon him by the Seneca chief Half-King in 1753, when he met that chief on his way to Fort Le Boeuf. The Then and Now project examines three case studies of dispossession: the But the conflict revealed particularly ugly ideological divides, as amply shown inTown Destroyer. The Mohawks saw the colonial settlements in violation of the Proclamation Line and trespassers in their territory. copy, MHi: Timothy Pickering Papers; Needless to say, those lamentable future occupiers of the White House are highly accommodating, providing perhaps the most egregious example of Twitlers lack of backbone on any issue save self-interesthe had always been publicly pro-choice, then began waffling, switching sides with a vengeance when it sank in that he needed the pro-life voters to win. What distinguishes her documentary is that she offers considerable insight into grassroots activism on both sides of the fence. To him we gave four miles round Niagara, as a place of Trade. 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He had been commissioned by the Five Nations in the spring of 1790 to seek redress of grievances against the New York lessees. It has also been translated as "Town Taker", "Burner of Towns", "Devourer of Villages", or "he destroys the town". Hear us once more. Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 18521949. Pawpaws. Street presented a document listing the grievances of the Five Nations to Jeremiah Wadsworth, with the request that Wadsworth put it into GWs hands (Street to Wadsworth, 5 Aug. 1790, NNGL: Knox Papers). In retrospect, no one should be surprised: Trump is exactly the sort of person who will always be able to get an unwanted pregnancy handled, legally or not, as People With Money always have. When your army entered the country of the Six Nations, we called you Hanadagyas (Town Destroyer): and to this day when that name is heard our women look behind them and turn pale, and our children cling close to the necks of their mothers. When that great Country was given up, there were but few Chiefs present, and they were compelled to give it up. Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 18521949. Cart, Become a Member held a Council and they agreed that no event of war could be worse than being driven with our wives & children from the only Country which we had any right to. We mean to open our hearts before you, and we earnestly desire, that you will let us clearly understand, what you resolve to do. History first: in 1779, three years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence and in the thick of a violent revolution, Washington ordered the total destruction and devastation of Iroquois villages allied with King George. They told us he resided beyond the great waters where the sun first rises: That he was a King whose power no people could resist, and that his goodness was bright as that sun. Advertise The elder Washington's reputation was remembered and when they met his great-grandson in 1753 they called George Washington by the same name, Conotocarious.[2][3]. The board rescinded its decision, perhaps because it was embarrassed by the national publicity that depicted its decision as a form of censorship. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. texts. He insisted in killing as . It also opens Fri/4 at the Roxie, with some screenings attended by Davenport and producer Keith Wilson. Washington dined with Cherokees, Chickasaws, Creeks, Kaskaskias, Mahicans, Mohawks, Oneidas, and Senecas; in one week late in 1796, he had dinner with four different groups of Indians on four different daysand on such occasions the most powerful man in the United States followed the . Thurs. fort Stanwix, commissioners from Pensylvania, told our chiefs, that they had come there to purchase from us, all the Lands belonging to us within the lines of their State, and they told us that their line would strike the river Susquehanna below Tioga branch. Records Commission. However, theres one thing almost everyone will agree on: After seeing the film, you will most likely be jonesing to see Arnautoffs magnum opus in person, because it looks quite stunning. 48 Hills welcomes comments in the form of letters to the editor, which you can submithere. The Iroquois, whose tribes had lined up on both sides of the conflict, were too distracted by their own internal divisions to see the crisis coming. It dates back to as early as 1776, inspired by his roles in the Revolutionary War and Constitutional Convention. The NASA scientists interviewed more than do their bit to anthropomorphise our heroine, particularly in choosing various golden oldies as Oppys (and their own) wake-up song, including the B-52s Roam, ABBAs SOS, plus Born to be Wild, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, etc. In sentence 4 Cornplanter's reference to Washington as "the Town-destroyer" recalls a time during the American Revolution (1779) when he ordered the burning of Seneca villages. The Seneca address was transmitted to Henry Knox for report; Knox replied on 27 Dec. 1790 with a report on the Seneca address and a draft of GWs reply (see Knox to GW, 27 Dec. 1790). Cynthia LowensBattlegroundoffers some insight on that score. The name in its original language(s) has been given variously as Conotocarius , Conotocaurious , Caunotaucarius , Conotocarious , Hanodaganears , and Hanadahguyus . We delivered up two men, accordingly. Become a 48 Hills Hero and support the only daily progressive news source in the Bay Area. Several years after the Revolutionary War, Seneca chiefs told Washington, "When your army entered the country of the Six Nations, we called you Town Destroyer; and to this day when the name is heard, our women look behind them and turn pale and our children cling to the necks of their mothers." It involved members of both the Susquehannah and the Piscataway, an Algonquian tribe that lived across the Potomac River from Mount Vernon. receive for his endeavors to deceive us, a peice of land ten miles in width west of the Chenesco river, and near forty miles in length extending to lake Ontario; and the lines of this tract have been run accordingly tho no part of it is within the bounds which limit his purchase. David Humphreys Life of General Washington with George Washingtons Remarks. Athens, Ga., 1991. description ends 10). During George Washington's presidency, Indian delegates were regular visitors to the seat of government. Nonetheless, the murals stirred little debate until the 1960s, when some Black students protested aspects they deemed offensive. Contact. The Expedition you are appointed to command is to be directed against the hostile tribes of the Six Nations of Indians, with their associates and adherents. Jonah Raskin is the author of Beat Blues, San Francisco, 1955. The name in its original language(s) has been given variously as Conotocarius, Conotocaurious, Caunotaucarius, Conotocarious, Hanodaganears, and Hanadahguyus. Town Destroyers armies burned and plundered 60 of our towns and hundreds of our farms, fields, orchards and livestock, forcing our people to evacuate. Full schedule and info here. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. "It was disastrous to the Iroquois," says Barbara Graymont, author of The Iroquois in the American Revolution. 53 minutes SDH Captioned>> Directed by Alan Snitow, Deborah Kaufman Produced by Snitow-Kaufman Productions Executive Producer: Peggy Berryhill (Muscogee) Writers: Alan Snitow, Deborah Kaufman (Being an Appendix to Report of the Minister of Agriculture.). In keeping with explicit orders from Washington, the Americans set ablaze every village in their path. public. It is just to punish murder with death, but the Seneccas will not deliver up their people to men, who disregard the treaties of their own nation. The former vice president has become the Democratic front-runner with primary victories across the country. The voice of the Senecca Nation speaks to you the great Councillor, in whose heart, the wise men of the thirteen fires, have placed their wisdom. On display since San Franciscos George Washington High School opened in 1936, it offers a view of the Founding Father both celebratory and critical, referencing his involvements in slavery and Native American genocide. JavaScript is disabled. "Town Destroyer" is a translation of the name given to George Washington by the Iroquois nation after he demanded the total destruction of their settlement and crops in a 1779 attack against the tribe that was aligned with the British. For we are about to speak of things which are to us very great. They called us brothers and invited us to his protection. Town Destroyer. Roxie Theater3117 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103. https://www.roxie.com/ai1ec_event/town-destroyer/. The Speech of the Corn-planter, Half-town and the Great-Tree chiefs of the Senecca Nation. Produced and Directed by Alan. Gil Herkimer Roads to Niagara Year 2000 Categories: facts, texts Updated:May 29, 2004 Share on TwitterFacebookLinkedInPreviousNext When he met with Washington 11 years after the devastating campaign, Chief Cornplanter, who headed the Seneca tribe of the Iroquois, stressed the durability of "Town Destroyer" as the commander in chief's nickname. It was surrendered to you as the price of peace and we ought to have peace, and possession, of the little Land which you then left us. Privacy Policy Conotocaurius (Town Destroyer) was a nickname given to George Washington by Iroquois Native Americans in 1753. Years later when George Washington was elected President of the newly formed United States, Seneca Chief Corn Planter addressed President Washington in 1790. 1890. If you find our videos helpful you can support us by buying something from amazon.https://www.amazon.com/?tag=wiki-audio-20Town Destroyer Conotocaurious (Tow. Degrowth or Debunk: Do Degrowth proponents have a strategy? Street has been informed by General Knox, that the President cannot interfere in the business of the five nations, committed to his agency; that if they are not satisfied with the behaviour of the New York Commissioners, they must apply to the Legislature which appointed them; in consequence of this answer Mr. Street intends to return to Niagara in a fortnight, and to petition the Legislature of this State at its next meeting (Dorchester to Grenville, 25 Sept. 1790, in Brymner, Report on Canadian Archives, 1890, description begins Douglas Brymner. Plus: Julian Assange's father comes to Roxie with new doc, Oscar-nominated Irish-language 'Quiet Girl,' more, Plus: 8mm video diaries by late, great local residentGeorge Kuchar and a history of the Laemmle theatre chain, Plus: 'First Fallen" confronts AIDS in Brazil, beguiling mystery in 'Magoado,' Naples thriller 'Nostalgia,' more new movies. According to its production company: "TOWN DESTROYER explores how to look at art and history at a time of polarized national debate over the power of images, racism, trauma, and what . They told us they must have the whole: That it was already ceded to them by the great King at the time of making peace with you, and was their own. When our chiefs returned from the treaty of fort Stanwix, and laid before our Council what had been done there our Nation was surprized to hear, how great a Country you had compelled them to give up, to you, without paying us any thing for it.3 Every one said your hearts were yet swelled with resentment against us for what had happened during the war: but that one day you would reconsider it with more kindness. r e. s w. w. w. Tow. In Town Destroyer, the filmmakers focus on the image of a dead Indian lying face down on the ground while settlers with guns stand close-by. Conotocaurius (Town Destroyer, Seneca: Handaganyas) was a nickname given to George Washington by Iroquois peoples in 1753. This project is supported by the The 13 murals at George Washington High School were painted in 1936 by leftwing artist Victor Arnautoff, a student of Diego Rivera. Join us for a free screening of TOWN DESTROYER - a new documentary about the furor over Victor Arnautoff's WPA murals at George Washington High School. Longtime local nonfiction filmmaking team Alan Snitow and Deborah Kaufman (Blacks & Jews, Secrets of Silicon Valley, etc.) We will not join either side. Staked Plains. The Haudenosaunee pledged neutrality with this statement, We see this as a fight between father and son. But instead of trying them according to your Law, the lowest of your people took them from your magistrate, and put them immediately to death. N MA F AU -K O N S g or W TI n. O a T C I fm SN ODU w-kau o PR nit. Great Tree was shot in the leg during his stay in Philahdelphia (Wallace, Death and Rebirth of the Seneca, description begins Anthony F. C. Wallace. Like the statue of Christopher Columbus targeted in Boston last month, it was beheaded and the crown finials of its surrounding fence sawn off. . Forty Indian villagesand a powerful indigenous nationwere razed on the orders of George Washington, Town Destroyer Versus the Iroquois Indians, By 1779, George Washington had already earned the famous moniker "Father of His Country." Not all U.S. presidents are missed once they leave the White House. History of Relations with our Brothers: 1613 to Today, Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), MAGAZINE OF SMITHSONIANS NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN. These questions and many more were the subject of hot debate when Victor Arnautoffs thirteen-panel mural The Life of Washington became an object of local controversy, then a media firestorm. Police funding, tax cuts, and spending equity will be on the table as the supes take on a brutal budget season. With the Haudenosaunee standing in the way of westward expansion of the new Republic and with General George Washington seeking revenge against the raids of colonial homes, he ordered the termination of the Haudenosaunee and sent these orders to General Sullivan, known today as the Sullivan Campaign. You demanded a great Country to be given up to you. To the great Councillor of the thirteen fires.