Political Science 2230E Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Neil Stonechild, Iroquois, Gradual Civilization Act
Document Summary
Indigenous people"s were practising their own form of self-government for thousands of years. Contact w/ europeans was very important - offered allies, economic support, helped w/ their survival of canadian winters. Alliance of 6 different indigenous nations - oldest participatory democracy in the world. Iroquois confederacy - referendums where both men and women could vote. Much more egalitarian than europeans in regard of women. 50 male military leaders representing female led clans. Constitution (great law) instituted a system of checks and balances so power wouldn"t be invested with the few. International doctrines regarding discovery - established rules (internationally) to govern how a european power could govern new lands. If europeans came upon new lands w/ pre-existing peoples you had to respect those nations + their sovereignty. Lands w/ no people than you can take control of the lands b/c no pre- existing inhabitants. Just war - war for good purpose - defeat previous inhabitants and take control that way.