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Article: Social fabric. (Pickering Treaty of 1794 between federal government and Iroquois confederacy still intact) (American Survey)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- November 12, 1994
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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A metre or so of unbleached muslin cloth may not seem like much of a peace offering. But to the 60,000 Indians who make up the six "nations" (or tribes) of the Iroquois confederacy, and who are entitled to a bolt of cloth (along with a little cash) from the federal government each year, it confirms that the Pickering Treaty of 1794 is still intact. That the size of the "annuity cloth", agreed as part of the treaty, has shrunk over the years is not the point, says Peter Jemison, a member of the Seneca nation and co- chairman of a committee which organised the treaty's bicentennial celebration on November 11th. It is the symbolism that counts: "I don't care if it gets down to ...