Early People

Chapter 2: New York Native Americans

I. Who were the first people in the America’s and how did they get here?

A. Native Americans (nomads)

B.They migrated from Asia for hunting purposes (follow animals)

C. Started agriculture (farming)

D. Spoke Iroquoian or Algonquian languages

E. Lived in many tribes

II. Who were the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee)?

People of the Longhouse

A.Iroquois Way of Life

1.Located in Northern and Western New York.

2. Lived in Longhouses

• 1-20 families

• No windows

• 2 families per section

• Palisades surrounded the village

3.Trading- extremely important between villages

4. Wampum- was used to make agreements

5. Three Sisters – Corn, squash, beans

B.Family Life

1.Each person belonged to many tribes but only 1 clan (close family)

2.Clans- turtle, bear, wolf, eel, hawk, heron, deer, beaver, eagle

3.Your clan was determined by your mother

4.Women- owned crops and longhouses

• Chose the chief (sachem)

• Most respected was Clan Mother

C. League of Five Nations

2. Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida and Mohawk join together to form 1 government (confederacy) working for peace.

3.Grand Council - leaders from each tribe was voted to meet to make laws, decide wars, etc… for the nation

4. Tuscaroras joined in 1700’s

1. Hiawatha & Iroquois legend

III.Who were the Algonquians?

Thought to be 1st to migrate to New York

A. Algonquian way of life

1. Located in southeastern N.Y.

2. Lived in longhouses & wigwams

3. Known for making excellent canoes

B. Family Life

1. Tribes – Delaware, Wappinger, Montauk, Mahican

2.Lived in clans named from nature

3. Clan determined by mother’s side

4.No unity – each tribe controlled by its leader

IV. What similarities did the Iroquois and Algonquian have?

A. Location

• Villages on hills near streams and rivers

• Today –Reservations (Akwesasne Reservation)

B. Clothing

• Deerskin, fur, feathers, porcupine quills

C.Natural Resources & Heritage

• Take from nature only what is needed

• Share everything with tribe members

• Lacrosse

D.Division of labor

• Men- make weapons, hunt, fish, clear fields for crops, built homes

• Women- raise children, crops, cook, take shelters apart

• Children – learn by watching and listening to traditions