I would like to share with you two articles written by my friend Dr. Robert Constas. One is a book review of the book Hiawatha and the Great Peace by Torkom Saraydarian. The second, longer article is an historical narrative about the legend of Hiawatha.

I have always enjoyed reading the story of Hiawatha, but was not really sure what part was myth and what part real. Torkom wrote the story in a sort of mythic/legend/poetic narrative that is very dramatic, very inspiring, has deeply meaningful parables and life examples, as well as a beautiful blend of poetry-music-and-wisdom teachings. As you read this story, either quietly or aloud, you can feel the musical and prayerful flow of words and phrases and be inspired by the rhythm alone. The story line is also very inspiring and very much in the genre of legend such as the Labors of Hercules, Bhagavat Gita, the Parables of Christ, and similar stories and characters taken from hero tales of the ancient past. Look deeper, and you will find examples of how great persons are inspired to rise up to extraordinary heights in quite ordinary life circumstances! I think this is why such stories are timeless and appreciated by people for hundreds if not thousands of years as they are told and re-told to fit the particular times and the cultural context. We love stories of heroes, for they restore our faith in ourselves and in humanity as a whole.

Robert also did some extensive research to find out what exactly has been written about Hiawatha and what his influence has been on Native American spiritual and cultural philosophy. He found some very interesting information about Hiawatha that also put Torkom’s work into a new and useful perspective.

If you are interested in the Native American traditions of inspired leadership and how the Wisdom Teachings permeate ancient cultures, you may enjoy reading the book review and the historical background by Dr. Robert Constas. The epic poem written by Torkom is sure to inspire! See the links below for all three items.

Hiawatha and the Great Peace BOOK REVIEW
Historical Background: Legend of the Great Peace of the Iroquois Confederation
About the book: Hiawatha and the Great Peace by Torkom Saraydarian

Enjoy!

Gita