* Symbolism: The flag of the Iroquois Confederacy symbolizes unity, peace, and friendship. The three circles (or suns) represent the three primary tribes of the Confederacy: the Seneca, Cayuga, and Onondaga. The white background symbolizes peace, while the purple sash represents friendship. The eleven white beads on the sash represent the eleven original nations of the Confederacy, which were later joined by the Tuscarora in the 18th century.
* History: The flag was designed in 1845 by Ely S. Parker, a Seneca chief who served as a Civil War general and commissioner of Indian affairs under President Ulysses S. Grant. The flag was first adopted by the Iroquois Confederacy in 1861 and has been in use ever since. It is widely recognized as a symbol of the Iroquois people and their history and culture.