Tee Yee Neen Ho Ga Row

About this artwork

“Hendrick” Tejonihokarawa was one of the Mohawk leaders, or sachems, who traveled to Queen Anne’s court in the spring of 1710 to request British support in territorial battles against the French. He is often confused with sachem Hendrick Peters Theyanoguin (c. 1691–1755). Recent scholarship discusses these two powerful individuals’ joint efforts to negotiate a place for the Mohawk and the Iroquois Confederacy in the volatile North Atlantic world.

Art Historical Context

This striking 1710 print by English engraver John Simon portrays “Hendrick” Tejonihokarawa, a respected Mohawk sachem, during a pivotal diplomatic journey to London. Tejonihokarawa one of four Indigenous leaders who traveled across the Atlantic to meet Queen Anne and seek British military aid against French forces threatening Mohawk and Iroquois lands. The image captures him in traditional attire, including a cape and hatchet, set against a forested backdrop that evokes both his homeland and the formal portrait conventions of early eighteenth-century Europe. As a print rather than a unique painting, Simon’s work allowed the likeness to circulate widely, shaping British perceptions of Native American diplomacy at a time when the Iroquois Confederacy played a crucial role in North Atlantic power struggles. Recent scholarship highlights how Tejonihokarawa and fellow sachem Hendrick Peters Theyanoguin worked together to secure a meaningful place for their people amid colonial conflicts. The portrait stands as a rare visual record of Indigenous agency and transatlantic negotiation, reminding viewers that these leaders actively shaped alliances rather than simply appearing as exotic visitors at court.