Scott Manning Stevens, associate professor of English and director of both the Center for Global Indigenous Cultures and Environmental Justice and the Native American and Indigenous Studies program in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences, was featured in a recent ICT News article examining the Indigenous roots of American democracy.

The article, part of ICT’s “America 250” series, explores how the Haudenosaunee Confederacy helped shape the political thinking of the United States’ founding fathers. Stevens, an Akwesasne Mohawk scholar, provides key historical context and insight into how Haudenosaunee governance influenced figures such as Benjamin Franklin.

“Probably our greatest influence on the founding fathers came through people like Benjamin Franklin,” Stevens explains in the piece. “He’s looking at the 13 colonies and thinking… could we all possibly ever work together?”

According to Stevens, Franklin closely studied the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, a union of six nations (Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora), as a working model of unity among distinct political entities. This model demonstrated how independent nations could maintain sovereignty while participating in a collective decision-making system.

The ICT News article highlights how this structure informed the development of the United States Constitution, particularly the idea of representative governance. It also underscores the longevity and continued relevance of Haudenosaunee governance. Rooted in the Great Law of Peace, this system emphasizes balance, respect and responsibility to future generations.

In addition to its historical analysis, the feature looks ahead, considering what lessons modern American society might still learn from Indigenous governance systems. Stevens points to the Haudenosaunee commitment to environmental stewardship and long-term thinking as especially relevant in the face of contemporary challenges like climate change.

Read the full ICT News article.