Awfully pessimistic, aren't we?
The Iroquois were very similar to the Somalis, despite being matriarchal. They had common origins, but were always at war with each other. In the 16th century, this changed:
"The founder of the Confederacy of the Five Nations is generally acknowledged to be Dekanawida, born near the Bay of Quinte, in southeastern Ontario, Canada. During his travels, he associated himself with a Mohawk tribal lord in what is now New York, and named him Hahyonhwatha (Hiawatha) (He who has misplaced something, but knows where to find it). Hiawatha left his family and friends, and joined Dekanawida in his travels, becoming his chief spokesman. One legend has it that Dekanawida, while brilliant, had a speech impediment, and depended on Hiawatha to do his public speaking for him. Together, they traveled the length and breadth of the lands on the south shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario, as well as the river to the sea, now known as the St. Lawrence. These were the homelands of tribes with a common heritage, but who had been warring with one another for many years. Dekanawida united them into a League of Nations that we now call the Iroquois League.
Here is their original Constitution, as best it can be reconstructed from legend and spoken history. Read it and be amazed...keep in mind it is over 500 years old!"
This is believed to be the basis for the Constitution of the United States of America, and is still used to govern the Iroquois Confederacy in Canada.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/iroquois.asp