Clan Mothers

Its composition is divided into nine vertical columns and three horizontal sections. Each vertical column represents one of the nine clans of the Haudenosaunee. From left to right, the clans are the Hawk, Snipe, Turtle, Heron, Beaver, Eel, Deer, Wolf, and Bear. The Hawk Clan is shown soaring high above, keeping a watchful eye and a higher perspective. The Snipe Clan appears grounded in its wetland habitat. The Turtle Clan is shown gliding through water and basking on a log, the log, sculpted with molding paste brings three-dimensionality to the painting. The Heron Clan is represented by a heron flying over a river, its reflection mirrored in the water while above, herons nest in the treetops caring for their young. The Beaver Clan features a diving beaver and another on land outside its den, with Cohoes Falls in the background, a sacred site to the Haudenosunee. In the story of the Peacemaker, as he was on his mission in unifying the five warring nations, it was here where the Mohawks put him through their test to see if he was who he said he was. They made him climb the highest pine tree by the waterfall and chopped it down, if the Peacemaker survived this Un survivable fall they would accept his message of the Great Law of Peace. He succeeded. The Eel Clan swims gracefully through the river's depths. The Deer Clan gazes out at the viewer with a towering eastern white pine rising behind them, representing the Tree of Peace with its five-needle clusters symbolizing unity among the original five nations. The Wolf Clan shows a mother and her pups resting near a thriving Three Sisters Garden of corn, beans, and squash, set against the backdrop of the Adirondack valleys, ancestral Haudenosaunee homelands. Finally, the Bear Clan portrays a mother bear and her cubs walking through the forest. Known to be the knowledge keepers of the medicine, they are surrounded by traditional healing plants like wild strawberries, wild tobacco, red willow, and birch trees. The middle horizontal third shows Adirondack Mountain range, spanning the canvas and visually connecting the nations. A line of eastern white pine trees travels from east to west, symbolizing unity and peace across the Confederacy. Just below the horizon line are nine traditional longhouses, each aligned beneath their respective clans. In the lower third of the composition, beneath each clan column, stands a clan mother holding a newborn baby in a cradleboard. These women are the backbone of Haudenosaunee society. They pass down clan identity through the maternal line, assign traditional names, and carry the power to raise and revoke leadership. Their presence in the painting honors the sacred role they play in maintaining the structure and values of our people. Framing each clan mother is a collage of fabric repurposed from garments made by my grandmother. She sews traditional ribbon shirts and dresses worn by community members at ceremonies. When I attend these ceremonies, I can instantly recognize her work. It’s a powerful reminder of her contribution to cultural revitalization. Including these fabrics in the painting is my way of honoring my grandmother and the matriarch.