The Iroquois The Iroquois Confederacy:Confederacy:

"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children."

Ancient Native American Proverb

Who Were the Iroquois?Who Were the Iroquois? Native Americans from the Eastern Woodlands Native Americans from the Eastern Woodlands

cultural regioncultural region 5 separate tribes combined to make up the Iroquois 5 separate tribes combined to make up the Iroquois

Nation: Nation: Mohawk, Seneca, Oneida, OnondagaMohawk, Seneca, Oneida, Onondaga and and CayugaCayuga Tribes. They were known as Tribes. They were known as The Five The Five Nations.Nations.

Later, a sixth tribe, the Later, a sixth tribe, the TuscaroraTuscarora Tribe, joined the Tribe, joined the nation.nation.

In 1570, the different tribes joined into an alliance as In 1570, the different tribes joined into an alliance as a way to end warfare and fighting that had existed a way to end warfare and fighting that had existed between them for years. They established common between them for years. They established common rules and a governing system to keep them united.rules and a governing system to keep them united.

Where Did the Iroquois Live?Where Did the Iroquois Live?

Mainly in New York Mainly in New York State, also in parts of State, also in parts of CanadaCanada

Each tribe settled Each tribe settled around one of the around one of the Finger Lakes in the Finger Lakes in the upstate New York upstate New York regionregion

How Did They Become United?How Did They Become United? Iroquois legend says that in Iroquois legend says that in

the late 1300s a woman had the late 1300s a woman had a dream that her daughter a dream that her daughter would soon have a baby, would soon have a baby, who she would name who she would name DekanahwidaDekanahwida, and that he , and that he would grow up to bring would grow up to bring peace to the warring lands. peace to the warring lands. Soon her dream came true Soon her dream came true and Dekanahwida was born. and Dekanahwida was born. When he was grown, he left When he was grown, he left home in a white stone canoe home in a white stone canoe to spread his message of to spread his message of peace to the warring tribes.peace to the warring tribes.

Dekanahwida the Peacemaker

Peace Brings UnityPeace Brings Unity Dekanahwida traveled Dekanahwida traveled

eastward and spread a eastward and spread a message of peace, claiming message of peace, claiming the task was given to him by the task was given to him by the the Great Spirit of the SkyGreat Spirit of the Sky. .

Along the way he met a Along the way he met a Mohawk Mohawk namednamed Hiawatha Hiawatha. . Hiawatha used his great Hiawatha used his great skills as a speaker and skills as a speaker and warrior to persuade chiefs warrior to persuade chiefs from the other nations to from the other nations to adopt Dekanahwida’s adopt Dekanahwida’s peaceful philosophy and to peaceful philosophy and to unite under this new idea.unite under this new idea.

Hiawatha of the Mohawk Tribe

How Was the League Structured?How Was the League Structured?

A council of 50 A council of 50 sachemssachems (tribal (tribal leaders) was chosen to make leaders) was chosen to make decisions for the Leaguedecisions for the League

Women chose the sachemsWomen chose the sachems Sachems held council meetings Sachems held council meetings

once a year and once a year and votedvoted on on solutions and actions to solve solutions and actions to solve problemsproblems

The league brought an end to The league brought an end to warfare by uniting the tribeswarfare by uniting the tribes

The council could only take The council could only take action if all the nations agreedaction if all the nations agreed

The First Real Democracy?The First Real Democracy?

Democracy: literally means “Democracy: literally means “rule by the peoplerule by the people”- comes from the ”- comes from the Greek Greek demos demos (people) (people) kratos kratos (rule)(rule). A form of government where . A form of government where the people make decisions, whether it be by voting directly or the people make decisions, whether it be by voting directly or electing representatives to vote on their behalf.electing representatives to vote on their behalf.

It has been said that the Iroquois Confederacy is the It has been said that the Iroquois Confederacy is the First Real First Real DemocracyDemocracy, and was influential to the creation of our infant nation, and was influential to the creation of our infant nation

What do you think?What do you think?

How did the Iroquois live?How did the Iroquois live?

They lived in structures called They lived in structures called long houseslong houses made out made out of wood- a long house was about 150 feet long and of wood- a long house was about 150 feet long and was mostly a large hallway that connected two rooms was mostly a large hallway that connected two rooms at either end. Each room was home to a family, and at either end. Each room was home to a family, and the adjoining families shared a common fireplace in the adjoining families shared a common fireplace in their hallway. Generally long houses were shared by their hallway. Generally long houses were shared by related families. Two or more related families were related families. Two or more related families were called a called a clanclan..

Iroquois people called themselves Iroquois people called themselves House Builders House Builders (many other tribes during this time were still living in (many other tribes during this time were still living in tepees or other less permanent structures)tepees or other less permanent structures)..

Iroquois Ways of Life:Iroquois Ways of Life:Roles of TribesmanRoles of Tribesman

Women own the long house Women own the long house and its propertiesand its properties

They also ran the planting They also ran the planting and harvesting to sustain the and harvesting to sustain the villagesvillages

Iroquois men moved in with Iroquois men moved in with the woman’s family upon the woman’s family upon marriagemarriage

Women chose the clan Women chose the clan leaders and could remove leaders and could remove leaders from powerleaders from power

Men spent most of their Men spent most of their time hunting, trading and time hunting, trading and fightingfighting

Female children helped their Female children helped their mothers with crops and mothers with crops and household choreshousehold chores

Male children learned Male children learned warrior and hunter skills warrior and hunter skills from their fathers and uncles from their fathers and uncles through competitive games through competitive games like Bagattaway (lacrosse)like Bagattaway (lacrosse)

Iroquois Ways of Life:Iroquois Ways of Life:SurvivalSurvival

Iroquois hunted mostly deer Iroquois hunted mostly deer and bison to surviveand bison to survive

Developed better and faster Developed better and faster ways to plant and irrigate; ways to plant and irrigate; their main crops were beans, their main crops were beans, squash and corn (“The squash and corn (“The Three Sisters”)Three Sisters”)

Men made canoes, long Men made canoes, long houses and tools (knives, houses and tools (knives, bows and arrows). In the bows and arrows). In the winter they made snow winter they made snow shoes to make winter shoes to make winter hunting easierhunting easier

Large festivals were held to Large festivals were held to honor spirits and pray for honor spirits and pray for good crops- Iroquois deeply good crops- Iroquois deeply respected naturerespected nature

Used Used wampum wampum (a white (a white shell bead) to trade and also shell bead) to trade and also to make story beltsto make story belts