Collection search - Day 1

Record information – Brief

1

Day 1

Item number (ISN):

564635

Series title:

The Great Law recited by Chief Jake Thomas

Hierarchical level:

Item (Accession level)

Date:

1992-09-19

Item number (ISN):

564635

Type of material:

Moving images

Found in:

Archives / Film, Video and Sound

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Record information – Details

Accession:

2014-01874-X

Media:

Video

Part:

5 of 5

Production date:

1992-09-19

Production company:

Rooney Productions

Production credit:

director/producer, Robert Rooney; producer, Brenda Rooney; photography, Marc Champion; Jeff Dell; Chris Nadon

Cast credit:

Jake Thomas

Country of production:

cn

Sponsor:

The Iroquoian Institute

Description:

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Recording of the opening ceremony, explanation by Jake that he will use his Native language; Jake points out that recording the Great Law is controversial because it is not a written constitution, but an oral one; gives an overview of the value and history of the Great Law. Jake then begins to recite the Great Law; tells of the saddness of the creator at the violence and warring, the birth of the Peacemaker, his growing years; return of the Peacemaker to his mother and grandmother's village; the grandmother tells the story of the Peacemaker's power.~Relates warring between nations made the Creator sad; tells of woman who took her daughter to live in seclusion for safety; the daughter grew up and gave birth to a son; the grandmother tried unsuccessfully three times to kill the child but realized child had great power; a man comes to visit her in a dream telling of the boy's role and that he is to be called “Degonawidha”; once child had grown a bit, returned to her village and told the story of the boy's birth; the boy gave the message of peace, power and righteousness and spoke about the good mind.~JT summarizes previous session; Peacemaker continues to explain the concepts of peace, power and righteousness to the village; JT discusses symbols; tells how Peacemaker outlines traditions and social structure to the people: woman as backbone of society and clans; rituals of days, feasting, medicine, the longhouse; the great war chief is the first to accept the message of peace power and righteousness; Peacemaker tells his grandmother and mother that his work is just beginning; he teaches the boys of the village how to live and his lessons continue until they become young men; the Peacemaker shows everyone how to play the peach stone bowl game; introduction of the left-handed twin and the struggle between the twins; JT comments on the value and importance of knowing one's Native language; the Peacemaker prepares to leave his village to continue his work of telling about peace power and righteousness.~Peacemaker plans to leave to continue spreading his message, so shows his mother and grandmother the great white pine tree and how to taste the sap to know if he is successful; Peacemaker makes a white stone canoe; Peacemaker wants the story of his birth and growing to be told to keep the story alive; comments on value of oral tradition; War chief are now to be called Great Leader b/c there is to be no more war; JT explains that mistakes were made in applying the GREAT LAW and are still being made b/c the concept of one mind is not always followed; explanation of how Lake Ontario got its name; Peacemaker crossed the lake and met a man who had taken his family away from strife and tells him the message of peace and asks him to relate it to the people of Ganyange / Ganyangehaga; PM continues on his travels; meets a woman called Chigootsasen, who feeds warriors who come from either side and the PM tells her she is as much to blame for the killings because she supports warriors; PM tells her of the longhouse, of the clan system, and that women will be the backbone of the culture; PM continues his travels, watches a cannibal who sees the PM's face reflected in the pot and decides to eschew cannibalism; PM hunts a deer with the intention that he and the man share it.~PM hunts a deer and tells the man about the clan system and the role of the women to elevate chiefs; some explanation of symbols of deer antlers, eaGreat Lawe feather; JT closes with comments that Native culture does not hide their past; Arnie makes a speech. <283mn 9s>

Language:

English / Cayuga / ?

Notes:

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1. Descriptions are taken from the transcripts.~2. JT refers to Chief Jake Thomas.~3. PM refers to Peacemaker.~4. GL refers to the Great Law.~5. GW refers to Great Wizard; also known as Great War chief.~6. DNRORG taken from the label. PGM is supposed to mean “program”. It is possible that this second editing was produced live during the recitation, using feed from the 3 cameras.~7. Tape 1 runs for 63mn 37s, tape 2 runs for 64mn 18s, tape 3 runs for 62mn 54s, tape 4 runs for 63mn 41s, and tape 5 runs for 28mn 39s.~8. First item on tape 5.~9. This editing appears to be very similar to the first one (IDCISN 564626).

Detailed holdings information:

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Vault ISN:

924907

Format:

VIDEO

Location number:

42848AV
42849AV
42850AV
42851AV

Number of items:

4

Kind of sound:

SOF

Made from:

DEPOSIT

Status:

MASTER

Vault ISN:

924911

Format:

VIDEO

Location number:

42852AV

Number of items:

1

Kind of sound:

SOF

Made from:

DEPOSIT

Status:

MASTER

Vault ISN:

926666

Format:

VIDEO

Location number:

564635-001.MXF
564635-002.MXF
564635-003.MXF
564635-004.MXF
564635-005.MXF

Number of items:

5

Made from:

42848AV
42849AV
42850AV
42851AV
42852AV

Status:

MASTER

Vault ISN:

926667

Format:

VIDEO

Location number:

564635-001.MP4
564635-002.MP4
564635-003.MP4
564635-004.MP4
564635-005.MP4

Number of items:

5

Made from:

42848AV
42849AV
42850AV
42851AV
42852AV

Status:

REF
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Donor restrictions:

With written permission of copyright holder. With written permission of donor.

Copyright status:

Under copyright.

Copyright owner:

Copyright Owner : Robert and Brenda Rooney.

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Date modified:: 2024-07-24