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~end of Great White lall Iona before Alan Pope conceived idea of 1ntroducinl legislation which d name the white pine as Ontario's of- . tree, long before the Europeans arrived dll,:over tliat the wood from this majestic was ideally suited for almost every need iurnlture to tools to the masts of sailing ill!I, f.lie Indiana had singled it out as an ~ · of rev.erance. . The "Great White Pine" has been the ymbol of the Six Nations Confederacy for over 580 years. . Legend has it that, sometime in the dim , J>eacemaker came to be among the pie ot the Five Nation11. These tribes, the awk, Onondaga, dayuga, Seneca and eida, had been much at war with each fer a long, long time. ~· l'eacemaker's message was one of peace, brptherhood and justice for all . After many attempts, he succeeded in persuading Ille nations to join together and form a con- federacy. The legend tells us that Peacemaker chose • spot in the centre of the council where he planted a "great white pine" wliidl was to be , "The Tree of Great and Eternal Peace." Ila great roots apread out to all four co.men of the earth and Peacemaker. promised that if any natioD or person would but promise to obey the laws of the Great Peace, they need only follow the NOtB to find lhelter beneath the tree. All the people then lqied their weapons of war under the tree so tbit tbe earth would be free for ever of these things which stemmed from evil minds. ~ ,placed an eagle atop the tree to v and protect all those who came to find peace under Uie tiranclies. The great white pine came to symbolize a good life with peace rooted in the earth beneath. It symbolized the law which, by mutual agreement, bound the nations tpgether. Its branches represented security and shelter which the peoples of the Five Nations found when they united and followed the law. The roots reached out in all directions to extend the message to peace to all men. · This story, a legend bued on fact, is one of the first on record which lays down a plan f~r world government featuring the principle of mity while recognizing the basic diversity of nations. Its structure, so it is said, had influence on the formation of the Con- stitutions of both the United states and the United Nations. The white pine is still a prominent and vital s)'lnbol for the peoples of the Six Nationa who live in Ontario. It Is featured in their art and their pottery. Peacemalrer's llltllUI• still influences their lives and tbeir relationships with other people. The Iroquois, the people of the Six Nations, are descendants of the Indian Loyalists who came to Ontario 200 years ago. They were pioneers who. strengthened this new land with their sense of justice and their loyalty. This year, like all Ontarians, they are celetrating their Bicentennial and among their many conu-ibutiona to the heritage of our province is their vision of thJl great white pine a.nd they symbol of peace and justice which ls rooted in the earth beneath tts .• - 1