HILL LEROY

Leroy Hill is a member of the Cayuga Nation, and lives at Six Nations Reserve., Oshweken, Ontario.

As told by Leroy:

“This sculpture depicts some symbols relating to the unification of the original five nations: Senaca, Onondaga, Cayuga, Mohawk, and Onieda. The legend relates that a messenger appeared in the village of the nations, before unification, and demonstrated to them the ease at which he could snap an arrow in two. This, he said, represents how weak you are when you are warring with each other. Then he held five arrows together, and attemped to break the bundle. He failed in his attempt. This, he said, represents the strength, the real power you will obtain if you unite with each other. The cluster of five arrowheads on the sculpture represents the unification of the original five nations. There are several other significant symbols of Iroquois history. The wampum belt on this sculpture is the tree of peace wampum, and the pipe represents the Cayuga Nation, of which I am a member. Finally, the canoe at the base of the sculpture is a symbols which represents your path in life. River travel, and hence the canoe, is important to the Iroquois people. Everything important to you and your family is held within that canoe.”