Nine facts about Native American tribes

A History.com story on nine facts about Native American tribes quotes Donald A. Grinde Jr., an expert on Haudenosaunee and Iroquois history. Grinde’s research has focused on the influence of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy on the United States Constitution. “There were three major contributions,” says Grinde. “First, that sovereignty resides in the people. The second is the separation of powers, the distinct branches of government. And the third is the constitution itself, with articles that can be cited, similar to how the Haudenosaunee recited their Great Law of Peace each year.” Unlike the United States Constitution, women played an active role in Haudenosaunee democracy, Grinde adds.