Tribes - Iroquois
The Iroquois people refer to themselves as the Haudenosaunee - People of the Longhouse. The Iroquois Confederacy is made up of six Iroquoian-speaking Indian nations: The Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora. Deganawidah, a prophet and shaman, is credited as the founder of the Iroquois confederacy, around the 1550's. He was called the "Great Peacemaker". Hiawatha was a follower of Deganawida, and together, the two prophets brought a message of peace to the original five related, squabbling tribes. Later, in 1721, the Tuscarora nation joined the Iroquois Confederacy, and they became the Six Nations. Once they ceased most infighting, they rapidly became one of the most powerful forces in 17th and 18th century northeastern North America, and were greatly feared for their prowess in battle.
The Iroquois at the 17th century height of their power had a population of around 12,000 people, between the original five tribes. Today, the six nations have a combined population of approximately 125,000 people - 80,000 in the United States and 45,000 living in Canada.
Their traditional form of housing, which they are known for, was the longhouse, occupied by an extended family. Made with a framework of tree saplings, and covered with tree bark, this form of housing had "bunks" built in to the walls for sleeping, along with storage shelves for clothing, weapons, baskets and other items of daily life. Several smoke holes allowed the smoke of several family fires to escape, while still keeping the inside warm and comfortable.
Iroquois society is matrilineal, meaning that ancestry descends through the woman's side of the family. When a young man married, he joined the family and clan of his bride, and shared their living space. Families raised maize (corn), beans and squash in carefully tended gardens, and gathered wild plants such as onions, parsley, wild grapes and nuts to supplement their diets and flavor foods. Fish were smoked and dried in summer to provide a variety of meat in the winter, including wild game. Tobacco was gathered and used for smoking and ceremonial purposes, as it still is today.
"Hiawatha's Belt", made of wampum, was composed of five figures. In the center was what some have described as a heart, to others it was a great or sacred tree under which the Iroquois met in council. On either side of the central figure were two differently sized squares. The squares were connected to each other and the central figure by a narrow band. The symbolism is quite clear. The five figures represent the five original tribes. From left to right they represent the Seneca, the keepers of the Western Door; the Cayugas, the "people of the marsh" and "keepers of the Great Pipe"; The Onondaga, who were the "name bearers", kept the wampum belt that contained the history of the Iroquois, and who are also keepers of the great council fire of the confederacy; the Oneida, the "stone people" symbolized by the Great Tree; and lastly the Mohawk, the "keepers of the eastern door".
The Iroquois Confederacy served as the example for the foundation of the United States, in the gathering of many individual states under one central government. As the centuries have passed, the numerous Iroquois have scattered over New York State, and also into Pennsylvania, the Middle West and southeastern Canada.
Information found on the following web sites:
The Iroquois people refer to themselves as the Haudenosaunee - People of the Longhouse. The Iroquois Confederacy is made up of six Iroquoian-speaking Indian nations: The Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora. Deganawidah, a prophet and shaman, is credited as the founder of the Iroquois confederacy, around the 1550's. He was called the "Great Peacemaker". Hiawatha was a follower of Deganawida, and together, the two prophets brought a message of peace to the original five related, squabbling tribes. Later, in 1721, the Tuscarora nation joined the Iroquois Confederacy, and they became the Six Nations. Once they ceased most infighting, they rapidly became one of the most powerful forces in 17th and 18th century northeastern North America, and were greatly feared for their prowess in battle.
The Iroquois at the 17th century height of their power had a population of around 12,000 people, between the original five tribes. Today, the six nations have a combined population of approximately 125,000 people - 80,000 in the United States and 45,000 living in Canada.
Their traditional form of housing, which they are known for, was the longhouse, occupied by an extended family. Made with a framework of tree saplings, and covered with tree bark, this form of housing had "bunks" built in to the walls for sleeping, along with storage shelves for clothing, weapons, baskets and other items of daily life. Several smoke holes allowed the smoke of several family fires to escape, while still keeping the inside warm and comfortable.
Iroquois society is matrilineal, meaning that ancestry descends through the woman's side of the family. When a young man married, he joined the family and clan of his bride, and shared their living space. Families raised maize (corn), beans and squash in carefully tended gardens, and gathered wild plants such as onions, parsley, wild grapes and nuts to supplement their diets and flavor foods. Fish were smoked and dried in summer to provide a variety of meat in the winter, including wild game. Tobacco was gathered and used for smoking and ceremonial purposes, as it still is today.
"Hiawatha's Belt", made of wampum, was composed of five figures. In the center was what some have described as a heart, to others it was a great or sacred tree under which the Iroquois met in council. On either side of the central figure were two differently sized squares. The squares were connected to each other and the central figure by a narrow band. The symbolism is quite clear. The five figures represent the five original tribes. From left to right they represent the Seneca, the keepers of the Western Door; the Cayugas, the "people of the marsh" and "keepers of the Great Pipe"; The Onondaga, who were the "name bearers", kept the wampum belt that contained the history of the Iroquois, and who are also keepers of the great council fire of the confederacy; the Oneida, the "stone people" symbolized by the Great Tree; and lastly the Mohawk, the "keepers of the eastern door".
The Iroquois Confederacy served as the example for the foundation of the United States, in the gathering of many individual states under one central government. As the centuries have passed, the numerous Iroquois have scattered over New York State, and also into Pennsylvania, the Middle West and southeastern Canada.
Information found on the following web sites:
www.native-languages.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiawatha
