History
Jacques Cartier was a French explorer who was the first European to discover the prosperous farming territory. Originally the explorers, traders and missionaries wanted to bring the European civilization and culture to the natives, but instead they actually brought terrible destruction. There were numerous native people who died in epidemics of smallpox and other diseases. There was also a bitter competition within the fur trade and warfare increased among the Iroquois leagues. The Iroquois soon killed off most of the beaver in their territory and began raiding Huron villages for furs. Only a few of the Huron survived in the attack that followed.
Six Nation was formed in 1722 fro the Five Nation of the League of the Iroquois. When the Tuscarora joined, they fought in many more wars. The last of which was in 1776 when the American colonies declared independence from Britain. Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga and Mohawk peoples were persuaded to join the British, while the Oneida and Tuscarora joined the Americans. The peace that was established amongst the Nations of the league of Iroquois was disturbed by a war. After the British lost the war, Joseph Brant, who was a Mohawk leader, led his people to a reserve at Grand River, which was in southern Ontario (near Brantford).
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Other Mohawks established themselves at reserves located at St. Regis on the St. Lawrence River and Caughnawaga which was located near Montreal. Those Iroquois Nations which stayed in the American territory had a very difficult life. The Seneca people were persuaded by 1,800 religious leaders and Handsome Lake to give up fighting and begin to learn how to use horses and plows. Handsome Lake is still followed by many Iroquois and his teachings are repeated by many in modern longhouses.
In the early 1900's, Mohawks ate Caughnawaga began to on bridge and skyscraper construction projects. They were challenged by this type of work because it required keen sight and a tremendous amount of courage and coordination which were things that were always valued by their ancestors.
Today the Iroquois still live on reserves in Ontario, Quebec and New York State. Many of these people still consider themselves as a united people and therefore believe that they have the right to cross the Canada/U.S. border without any type of restriction.
The Great Council still meets and the clan matrons are still appointing sachems, but the modern leaders, which are called chiefs are elected in by the people. The members of the False Face Society continue to dance while wearing their masks because they believe that this brings good health for their people. The Iroquois are very proud of their heritage and history prior to the Europeans coming to their country.
Other Mohawks established themselves at reserves located at St. Regis on the St. Lawrence River and Caughnawaga which was located near Montreal. Those Iroquois Nations which stayed in the American territory had a very difficult life. The Seneca people were persuaded by 1,800 religious leaders and Handsome Lake to give up fighting and begin to learn how to use horses and plows. Handsome Lake is still followed by many Iroquois and his teachings are repeated by many in modern longhouses.
In the early 1900's, Mohawks ate Caughnawaga began to on bridge and skyscraper construction projects. They were challenged by this type of work because it required keen sight and a tremendous amount of courage and coordination which were things that were always valued by their ancestors.
Today the Iroquois still live on reserves in Ontario, Quebec and New York State. Many of these people still consider themselves as a united people and therefore believe that they have the right to cross the Canada/U.S. border without any type of restriction.
The Great Council still meets and the clan matrons are still appointing sachems, but the modern leaders, which are called chiefs are elected in by the people. The members of the False Face Society continue to dance while wearing their masks because they believe that this brings good health for their people. The Iroquois are very proud of their heritage and history prior to the Europeans coming to their country.
Language
The Iroquoian languages were spoken by most longhouse dwellers Before they migrated, they were one nation. When they began to migrate to the Northeast, many different bands, or groups of families settled in different areas. They grew in numbers and then became separate nations and each of them established their own language and culture. The Tuscarora, Wenrohronon, Meherrin, Seisquehannoek, Nottoway and Cherokee also spoke the Iroquoian languages, but these nations did not live in the northeast.
Each tribe had its own unique way of speaking and this also included having their own special customs. Their language was called 'The Five Nations' which was comprised of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca and Cayuga tribes. The Iroquois was the name that they were called by their enemies.
Beliefs & Ceremonies
The Iroquois believed in many spirit forces which were created by a Master or Supreme Being. For instance, the 'Sky Spirit' took on the form of wind, thunder, sun, moon and stars. The "Earth Spirit' took on the form of plants and animals. All of the spirits together were called "Orenda' which was a Mohawk word for 'song'. Similar to a song, they believed that spirit forces flowed through all of nature and controlled the weather and also the lives of the people, animals and plants.
It was also believed that if anything was dreamed about, that it was sure to happen in the future. If a warrior would have a dream about being harmed, he would ask his friend to cut him slightly, so that the dream would be true without the other consequences coming to pass. They believed that all dreams were important and they were always trying to figure out the meaning of them. They believed that if a dream did not come true, that it could make someone sick. The Shaman or 'Medicine Man' used the spirit forces that came to him in dreams and he used this to try and cure many illnesses.
They always gave thanks at the beginning of each New Year and when the maple syrup began to flow. They also gave thanks when planting or harvesting the crops and the ripening of the corn, beans and squash.
Clan Life
Over the doorway of each longhouse was the emblem of the clan who lived inside. The emblem was significant because it stood for the animal that was believed to be the clan's guardian. The clan was invariably named after that particular animal, whether it was a wolf, beaver, bear or turtle. Every clan had stories about how and why it was named after that animal.
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The people of the same clan often lived in different villages but belonged to different nations. If the people from the Bear Clan visited another village, they stayed in the longhouse of the Bear Clan. Even if some nations only had 3 or 4 clans, there were others like the Wendat who had as many as 8 clans. A clan relationship was considered to be similar to a family relationship. These clans had strict rules that they were not to marry someone from another clan.
Marriages were always arranged by the mothers. A man's mother was responsible for choosing her son's wife. Once he presented this offer to the girl's mother, she then had the right of refusal of the offer, especially if the man was not skilled in hunting or as a warrior. The Clan mother always had the final say about the marriage. The Clan Matron, along with the help of the other women, always selected the Sachem or Chief. There were 2 types of Sachems, one for civil and one for war. There was also a Head Sachem for the entire village. The village council meetings were always held at the Head Sachem's longhouse. Many matters were discussed, such as hunting, fishing, ceremonies, building longhouses. They were also able to solve any disputes and decide on some of the issues the were desired by the villagers. The tribal council included the sachems from several villages of one or more nations. They decided on issues such as trade and/or war among the nations.
The people of the same clan often lived in different villages but belonged to different nations. If the people from the Bear Clan visited another village, they stayed in the longhouse of the Bear Clan. Even if some nations only had 3 or 4 clans, there were others like the Wendat who had as many as 8 clans. A clan relationship was considered to be similar to a family relationship. These clans had strict rules that they were not to marry someone from another clan.
Marriages were always arranged by the mothers. A man's mother was responsible for choosing her son's wife. Once he presented this offer to the girl's mother, she then had the right of refusal of the offer, especially if the man was not skilled in hunting or as a warrior. The Clan mother always had the final say about the marriage. The Clan Matron, along with the help of the other women, always selected the Sachem or Chief. There were 2 types of Sachems, one for civil and one for war. There was also a Head Sachem for the entire village. The village council meetings were always held at the Head Sachem's longhouse. Many matters were discussed, such as hunting, fishing, ceremonies, building longhouses. They were also able to solve any disputes and decide on some of the issues the were desired by the villagers. The tribal council included the sachems from several villages of one or more nations. They decided on issues such as trade and/or war among the nations.
_Fun and Entertainment
A popular game that was played that was played was called "Snow Snake". This was a winter game in which they slid curved sticks over the snow to hit a wooden ball. Winter was also a time for the making and repairing of their clothes and goods.
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Lacrosse was the game that was invented by the Iroquois people. It was the favorite sport of all children and adults. The ball was made out of deerskin and stuffed with fur and was hit by a long wooden stick which had a small net over one end.l It was believed that this game was invented to develop their endurance and agility.
Lacrosse was the game that was invented by the Iroquois people. It was the favorite sport of all children and adults. The ball was made out of deerskin and stuffed with fur and was hit by a long wooden stick which had a small net over one end.l It was believed that this game was invented to develop their endurance and agility.
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In the summer, a different village played games against each other to compete. Sometimes during major festivals, each team had hundreds of men competing. Story telling was also high on the list for entertainment while they enjoyed each others' company. Women also played games in which they hid shells or pieces of bone under moccasins or mats while the others tried to guess where the object was hidden.
In the summer, a different village played games against each other to compete. Sometimes during major festivals, each team had hundreds of men competing. Story telling was also high on the list for entertainment while they enjoyed each others' company. Women also played games in which they hid shells or pieces of bone under moccasins or mats while the others tried to guess where the object was hidden.
_ The Bean
Game was popular as well. Women painted beans white on one side and
then black on the other side. They competed to see who could strike the
bowl against the ground and make five beans turn either all black side
up or white side up. When girls went as a group to fetch water, gather
seeds or pick berries, they enjoyed throwing and tossing games using
objects like fruit pits.
_ The boys
strengthened their bodies and always tried to improve their skills as a
hunter or warrior. They always had races and competitions such as
wrestling, throwing hatchets, spearing fish and shooting arrows. In the
wintertime, children had a lot of fun in bark toboggans which they
raced down nearby hills.
_ They
also enjoyed music and dancing as well while it was accompanied by the
rhythm of rattles which were made up of turtle shells and also wooden
drums which were filled with water.