The Mohawk

MOHAWK HISTORY (iriquois confederacy)

..The people of the Six Nations, also known by the French term, Iroquois Confederacy, call themselves the Haudenosaunee (ho dee noe sho nee) meaning People Building a Long House. Located in the northeastern region of North America, originally the Six Nations was five and included the Mohawk Nation (keepers of the eastern door), Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. The sixth nation, the Tuscaroras, migrated into Iroquois country in the early eighteenth century. Together these peoples comprise the oldest living participatory democracy on earth. Their story, and governance truly based on the consent of the governed, contains a great deal of life-promoting intelligence for those of us not familiar with this area of American history. The original United States representative democracy, fashioned by such central authors as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, drew much inspiration from this confederacy of nations. In our present day, we can benefit immensely, in our quest to establish a new music venue truly dedicated to all life's liberty and happiness much as has been practiced by the Six Nations for over 800 hundred years.

As one of the six nations, the Mohawk in particular were known for their skills in the art of war, loyalty, strength, love for the earth, and most notebaly, their resourcefullness. The vision of The Mohawk Austin @ 912 Red River is to use what we have learned to effectively recreate some elements of this culture through the booking, design and personality of this new adventure.

Members of the Mohawk tribe now live in settlements spread throughout New York State and Southeastern Canada. Among these are Ganienkeh and Kanatsiohareke in northeast New York Akwesasne St.Regis along the Ontario-New York State border, Kanesatake/Oka and Kahnawake in southern Quebec, and Tyendinaga and Wahta/Gibson in southern Ontario Mohawks also form the majority on the mixed Iroquois reserve, Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario. These areas also happen to be fruitful ground for some of our best new music today. To creatively blend this with elements of our local Austin music scene and culture is our quest and journey. We @ the Mohawk would like to tip our hat in thanks to the past and present members of the Mohawk Nation across North America. It is this powerful culture that inspires us to this day.