January 1992
Friends,
In 1994 it will be two hundred years since the signing of the Canandaigua
(or Pickering) Peace Treaty (1794-1994). This Treaty is very important to
the Indian people of the northeast and the whole United States for it
established the lasting peace between the Six Nations of the Iroquois
Confederacy and the U.S. government. The Canandaigua Treay granted rights
to the Iroquois which are still being honored ...
Members of the 1794 Canandaigua Treaty Commemoration Committee ... have
requested that the U.S. Post Office issue a commemorative postage stamp to
help honor the two hundredth anniversary of the Treaty signing: November
11, 1994. To convince the postal authorities to issue such a stamp
requires a long campaign and a great deal of public pressure. Each year
the Post Office receives thousands of such requests for various stamps.
The Committee appointed me to act as the Direcor of the stamp drive and I
have been active in this effort since 1984. We have sent in thousands of
letters and many, many petitions in favor of this project. I believe that
we may be nearing victory in our drive and now need that extra push of
support during 1992 to finally gain our objective. It is important that
the stamp have national interest and significance and so we are asking that
our native friends as well as others submit letters of support from across
the country. We have enlisted the support of Congressional people such as
Senators Inouye and Moynihan and Representatives Horton, Slaughter and
Paxon. We have also been joined in our effort by the permanent U.S.
Representative to the United Nations, Thomas Pickering, a relative of one
othe original signers of the Treay document.
Enclosed are some letter blanks which can be sent to the address given or
forwarded to me when completed. It is our hope that you will make copies
of the blanks and urge people to sign and send them in to the Post Office
at the Washington address as soon as possible. A peace treaty of two
hundred years brings much honor to all the people involved with it and we
hope that you agree that this event should be commemorated with a stamp
that would be seen around the world. If you have any questions or need
more blanks, information, etc., please do not hesitate to contact me at the
address below. Thank you for your help.
With Kind Thoughts For Mother Earth,
Robert J. Gorall, Director
1794 Canandaigua Treaty Commemoration Committee
2990 Tyler Road
Newark, New York 14513-9740
(315) 331-4005
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Members of the 1794 Canandaigua Commemoration Committee:
Chief Leon Shenandoah, Onondaga Vernon & Carol Jimerson, Seneca
Chief Carbett Sundown, Seneca Jane LeClair
Adelaide Angevine, Cayuga Jeanette Miller, Mohawk
Carl Brant, Mohawk Marian Miller, Seneca
Marcheta Davidson, Seneca Marlene Miller, Tuscarora
J. Sheldon & Lillian Fisher Don W. Moore
Robert & Muriel Gorall Helen Nichols
G. Peter Jemison, Seneca Jackie Platt
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Postmaster General Re: Proposed stamp for
U.S. Postal Service CANANDAIGUA TREATY
475 L'Enfant Plaza S.W. 1794 --- 1994
Washington, D.C. 20260-6753
Dear Sir,
The Canandaigua Treaty of 1794, established the peaceful co-existence which
still prevails between the people of the Six Nations of the Iroquois
Confederacy and the citizens of the United States. The honoring of this
great Treaty continues today as an enduring symbol of the commitment made
between these two groups.
In 1994 it will be two hundred years since the principals who signed this
famous document agreed to 'keep bright the chain of friendship'. I urge
the U.S. Post Office and the Stamp Advisory Committee to issue a
Commemorative Stamp on November 11, 1994 in Canandaigua, New York
commemorating this very important and historic event.
Respectfully Yours,
Name:______________________________________
Address:______________________________________
______________________________________