CONTRIBUTIONS
FEATURED EXHIBIT
Step into a powerful exploration of Indigenous innovation and influence. Contributions reveals how Native technologies, philosophies, and systems of governance from snow goggles to principles of unity continue to shape the modern world in ways many have never been taught.
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in·di·gen·u·i·ty™
The creative intelligence and technological knowledge of Indigenous communities that contributed to agriculture, medicine, governance, food systems, and innovation—and continue to influence the modern world.
Indigenous + Ingenuity
Indigenous Ideas
The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy influenced the U.S. Founding Fathers through the “Five Arrows” symbol of unity and the Great Law of Peace. The Peacemaker taught that a single arrow can be broken, but five bound together—representing the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca nations—are strong and unbreakable.
Haudenosaunee leaders shared this principle of unity with colonial leaders, including Benjamin Franklin, who later adopted similar ideas of federalism and collective strength. In 1988, the U.S. Congress formally recognized the Confederacy’s influence on the development of the Constitution.
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Kelly Washington
Most residents of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area are familiar with the term ‘Maricopa’, but relatively few are aware it is a name referring to one of the indigenous tribal groups of the land upon which they reside. Even fewer are familiar with the distinct culture and history of the Maricopa who refer to themselves as Piipaash in their own language. There is very little information written about the Piipaash/Maricopa, and what little does exist is usually not from a first-person perspective. In this presentation, I will share a brief history of the Piipaash along with aspects of our origins, language and culture, past and present.
The Piipaash (Maricopa): A Living History and Enduring Contributions
CONTRIBUTIONS
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Discover Indigenuity in action visit the exhibit and explore how Indigenous innovation continues to influence modern life.
