Social Organization
Each nation had a different number of sachems on the Council, however, this number did not reflect the power of the nations in the league. The number always depended on the agreements made and also on the number of clans in each tribe. Because each nation had only one vote, it was impossible for the sachems to control the Council. When the Great Council met in the land of the Onondaga one time per year, they were called the "keepers of the Council Fire". Messengers summoned the sachems in the neighbouring areas of Oneida and Cayuga to each meeting. Each message carried a tally-stick with strings of wampum attached and it showed how many days it would be to the next meeting by the number of notches on it.
Great council meeting lasted several days and through it they made new laws because all the sachems had to agree on each final decision. Strings of wampum were held tightly in their hands as each sachem spoke and it signified that his words were true. When the wampum was taken from him and passed to the next speaker, it was a sign that the truth of his words were accepted.
Sachem served on the council for his entire life. If a sachem died or was removed by the natron of his clan, the clan matron consulted with the other women and they chose a replacement. The choice she made was then voted on by all of the adult members. Tribal councils included the sachems, the war chiefs and often the clan matrons. The war chiefs were chosen by their bravery and courage and also how skilled they were in warfare. Meetings were open to all members, but they had no vote, but they could however, be an influence in the final decision that was made.
Village councils usually included respected elders and it included both males and females; clan chiefs and matrons. These councils organized numerous village projects; made decisions on matters of compensation; and also set the dates for their dances, ceremonies, rituals and games.
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The reasoning for forming leagues was because they needed allies to
fight and this was easier when there were more of them fighting together
for the same reasons. They also wanted to have peace with their
neighbours and trading partners. It is believed that their leagues were
founded by their ancestors Hiawatha and Dekaniwedah. The name of
Hiawatha means "he who seeks the wampum belt." Dekaniwedah means "the
master of things" (part god and part human). He told Hiawatha that he
would help him to form a league of nations to prevent blood feuds and to
spare people the terrible sadness of losing loved ones. Both travelled
in a white canoe throughout the lands of the Iroquois, inviting the
nations to join together in peace. Mohawk were the first to join, so
they became known as "the elder brothers."
The Constitution of the league formed the model for the United States
Constitution. It contained things like freedom of speech, freedom of
religion and the right to hunt on the lands of member tribes. It was
also agreed that no Iroquois could kill another Iroquois member. If
violence broke out, the victim always had to be compensated and if the
victim died, the compensation went to their family. They were
compensated by the payment of white campum or goods to whatever value
was deemed by the league or tribal council.
_ Witchcraft, treason and
theft were crimes that one could get exiled for. To be exiled meant
that the person who was guilty was forced to leave the tribe and this
was necessary since there were no jails. The Great Council of the
league was very similar to the parliament of Canada and also the
Congress of the U.S.A. Tribunal council was similar to the provincial
legislature and the village council was like City Council. The biggest
difference was that the representatives
were not voted in, rather they were chosen by the clans. The Great Council consisted of 50 sachems or peace chiefs.
were not voted in, rather they were chosen by the clans. The Great Council consisted of 50 sachems or peace chiefs.
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Jobs
Men built longhouses, palisades and canoes and traded with the other nations and were in charge of hunting and fishing. The men worked hard to clear the land for farming and then set fire to the brush and trees after they had chopped them down with stone axes.
The men were also responsible for protecting and defending all of the women and children of the village. Boys were taught how to fight at a young age and also how to fend off an animal attack or even a raid by another nation.
Women were the heart and the soul of the longhouse village. They gathered wild foods from the land and were responsible for growing the gardens. They also prepared the clothing for all of the people. They also wove baskets and mats from corn husks, wood strips and grasses. They made trays, boxes and sturdy barrels which were used for food storage.
Jobs
Men built longhouses, palisades and canoes and traded with the other nations and were in charge of hunting and fishing. The men worked hard to clear the land for farming and then set fire to the brush and trees after they had chopped them down with stone axes.
The men were also responsible for protecting and defending all of the women and children of the village. Boys were taught how to fight at a young age and also how to fend off an animal attack or even a raid by another nation.
Women were the heart and the soul of the longhouse village. They gathered wild foods from the land and were responsible for growing the gardens. They also prepared the clothing for all of the people. They also wove baskets and mats from corn husks, wood strips and grasses. They made trays, boxes and sturdy barrels which were used for food storage.