Roots of Democracy by Aditi Singh Democracy is often viewed as a Western, European concept, tracing back to ancient Athens. But if we look deeper, we find that the roots of democratic governance reach far beyond Europe, into the forests and river valleys of North America where indigenous democratic systems were thriving. Among the most notable were the Haudenosaunee, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat people. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy was a powerful alliance of five nations—Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca—later joined by the Tuscarora. 1 Before European contact, they occupied territory across what is now New York State and Ontario. Their political union is widely recognized as one of the oldest participatory governance systems in the world. Meanwhile, the Huron-Wendat lived further north in southern Ontario. 2 Closely related to the Iroquois in language and culture, they also followed a matrilineal, clan-based system, but it is important t...