I chose Hiawatha for his character and impact on American democracy. Firstly, he was able to turn his grief and mourning after his daughters were killed into consolation and compassion. When we lose the people we loved dearly, we often turn to vengeance, depression, and anger, yet I truly admire how Hiawatha was able to turn his suffering into a message of peace that would eventually bring harmony to the Haudenosaunee’s five warring nations. Secondly, he was essential to the establishment of democracy in North America. Without his contributions, the founders of the US would never be able to draw inspiration from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy to establish principles such as unity and democracy in America.

So what was Hiawatha’s full story? For over 200 years, the United States of America has recognized the bald eagle as its guardian. On the US Great Seal, the bald eagle is depicted holding 13 arrows in one talon, securing them together for eternity. Yet, US constitutional convention members were never the first to use these motifs. In today’s New York, centuries before the American Revolutionary war and the United States, the indigenous Haudenosaunee Confederacy had already been established as ”one of the first and longest lasting participatory democracies in the world” (Confederacy Website).

Today, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy includes six nations–the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora (which joined the Confederacy later, in 1722). Their unity had long been represented by six arrows, bound together. For them, the eagle is said to be the protector of peace and a messenger for the Creator. In 1987, the Senate acknowledged that “the confederation of the original Thirteen Colonies into one republic was explicitly modeled upon the Iroquois [Haudenosaunee] Confederacy as were many of the democratic principles which were incorporated into the Constitution itself”.

However, the Haudenosaunee nations weren’t always at peace. Before the Confederacy’s founding in the 12th century, the five original nations fought often, and it was an era of violence and discord. Hiawatha was an Onondaga chief with seven beloved daughters. However, after the “evil sorcerer” Atotarhoh, killed them all, Hiawatha fell into grief and exiled himself into the woods. Yet he was able to find compassion within him, braiding plants together to express it. Lather, with guidance from members of the Oneida Nation, he eventually met Deganawida (the Great Peacemaker). After Deganawida shared his doctrine of peace, Hiawatha became the Peacemaker’s spokesperson, and the two travelled together to spread their ideas. Eventually, their journey led to the establishment of the Great Law of Peace and the Confederacy sometime around 1147. Though many historians have focused on Deganawida’s role in uniting the five nations, one cannot ignore Hiawatha’s contributions. After being exiled from his own nation, Deganawida faced only rebuffs and obstacles. As such, Hiawatha was essential for not only the nations’ peace, but also for establishing a system of governance that influenced the foundations of American democracy.

In my artwork, Hiawatha’s mouth is slightly open, curved into a content smile, and his eyes are closed, as if he is about to tell a story - one of harmony and love. This represents his reflective, peaceful, and compassionate outlook on life. On Hiawatha’s shoulder is a bald eagle ready to take flight, representing his role in giving the warring nations peace and his impact on the foundations of US democracy. He wears the traditional Haudenosaunee clothing he is often depicted in, and on his headdress hangs purple-and-white feathers. To the Haudenosaunee, purple represents sorrow while white represents energy and brightness. For this reason, the image mainly takes on a purple hue, symbolizing the pain Hiawatha went through after losing his daughters as well as the violent and sorrowful times before the Confederacy was established. The white glow from the colored Haudenosaunee emblem (top left) represents the brightness and peace that came after Hiawatha and Deganawida united the warring nations. The circular emblem itself depicts the Haudenosaunee’s sacred Tree of Peace, under which the nations’ chiefs buried their weapons. On top of it stands the Eagle, serving as the protector of peace and herald of danger. Around the tree are the Haudenosaunee’s symbolic animals, and the Confederacy’s 50 chiefs hold hands in a circle. Moreover, the background of the emblem is a sunset, as the Haudenosaunee people often host “Closing” ceremonies near the end of the day as “a constant reminder of the relationship that all creation has with each other and that we humans are just one strand in the delicate web of life” (Oneida Cultural Heritage Department) - this fits with Hiawatha’s doctrine of peace and harmony. Underneath the emblem is a map of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy as well as Hiawatha and Deganawida speaking to the people, the two full of sorrow for the war and violence that plagued the five nations. The Haudenosaunee people they talk to are colored with a whiter shade, representing how the future of the nations depends on their willingness to uphold peace.

Hiawatha’s story taught me that one or two people can make a large impact on their community, as he and Deganawida brought peace to thousands of people, and that I can turn hatred and sorrow into love and compassion - just as he did after losing his daughters. After studying his story, I will take on life with a more positive, compassionate, and thoughtful mindset. On a larger scale, I learned that Hiawatha influenced not just the five nations, but also the foundations of American democracy. On July 4th, 2026, we celebrate the US turning 250 years old - its Sestercentennial. And just as we appreciate those who first created the country, we must also recognize those who helped establish democratic foundations that shaped it. These people - people like Hiawatha - are often under-acknowledged and ignored, and this is why I created this artwork. By sharing it through the Unsung Heroes competition, the internet, and my local community (school, friends, family), I hope to share Hiawatha’s story and the lasting impact it has on our world today.