The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, a participatory form of democracy developed by native Americans long before European colonization, was a major influence in the development of the United States system of government. Usually, this nation of people is often called the Iroquois, a less than flattering name given to them by their enemies, the Haudenosaunee urged the original colonies to unify like them and with them to become a self-governing nation. Even though this influence was not recognized by the U.S. Congress until 1988, it continues to provide a stellar model of unity, truth, tolerance, and justice as the foundation of sustainable government. We should all remember these examples as we celebrate the U.S. Constitution on the Fourth of July.