Great Tree of Peace
In response to the complexities facing the world today, aboriginal artist Samuel Thomas (Iroquois) initiated a “project for peace”. Over the past four years, Thomas has collaborated with communities throughout Canada, the USA, and Kenya. The project, to create a six-foot tall fully beaded “Great Tree of Peace” combines Iroquois and African beading techniques. The finished project was unveiled at the United Nations headquarters May 15, 2007.
The project is based on the traditional Iroquoian teaching of peace and unity. It is taught that at the founding of the League of the Iroquois, a white pine tree was uprooted and all weapons of war placed into the pit that was created, the tree was re-planted and became known as the Great Tree of Peace. It is told that roots of the Great Tree spread to the four cardinal directions of Mother Earth and anyone seeking peace and protection under the Great Tree can follow the roots back to their source there they will find peace. Taking this central metaphorical concept along with the traditional teachings that at times the tree will need to be ‘re-planted', Thomas with the assistance of 1000s of individuals came together to 're-plant' the Great Tree. It stands as a symbol of world peace, the dream that it can be a source of inspiration for all people of all nations, hence the first public installation at the United Nations Headquarters.
Over the past four years, Thomas along with his mother Lorna Thomas-Hill have collaborated with 100s of Indigenous People from six tribal villages in East Africa, 10 visual artists from Nairobi, along with 1000s of individuals from various organizations and institutions across North America. Some of the North American institutions are the Royal Ontario Museum, the Textiles Museum of Canada, the Woodland Cultural Centre, the United Nations, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian both in New York and in Washington DC.
The finished tree incorporates techniques of Indigenous People from North America and East Africa. It has fifty branches to represent the fifty original chiefs of the Iroquois Confederacy, fifty strawberries to symbolize cleansing and renewal. One hundred white wampum beads symbolize the keepers of the faith that stand with the fifty chiefs. It is completed in the wampum colours of purple and white to symbolize harmony and proper balance. Atop the tree sits a visual reminder of the eagle, which watches out for encroaching danger and symbolizes protection for the people. The techniques used in the tree creation include a bead winding process the East Africans call Mutilima, a process that encompasses the circle of life, a continuous winding symbolizing continuity of life. As the beads were wound, they were given life, through African prayer songs for beads.
This project was made possible with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts Aboriginal Peoples Collaborative Exchange Program, the Ontario Arts Council’s Chalmers Art Fellowship Award, The Ford Foundation NY, The Ford Foundation East Africa, The Ontario Arts Council Crafts Grant and Exhibition Assistance Program.