Learning Haudenosaunee History

In order to increase our organization’s cultural competency and expand community relationships, CGR hosts monthly events on topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion. In May and June 2024, we engaged in two sessions with Ronnalyn (Ronnie) Pollack, a member of the Mississauga’s of the Credit First Nation/Six Nations of the Grand River, to learn about Haudenosaunee history, the historical impact of colonization and U.S. policy and the current state of the Haudenosaunee. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy encompasses the Six Nations of the Grand River including the Seneca, the Cayuga, the Onondaga, the Oneida, the Mohawk and the Tuscarora. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s political system and constitution had a major influence in the development of democratic principles and structures that were incorporated into the U.S. Constitution. U.S. policies that displaced Indigenous people on reservations and the placement of Indigenous children in residential boarding schools in the 19th and 20th centuries have caused historical trauma and marginalized these communities over generations, putting them at elevated risk for poverty and other social harms.

Ronnalyn Pollack is the Director of Training and Community Engagement for the Center for Dispute Settlement. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Monroe Community College and has taught in the Health and Physical Education Department for over 16 years.

July 2, 2024 CGR Briefs Edition