Native Americans

In North America

Three Phase Migration of Native Ameiricans to Ameica

• Scientists believe that the Native Americans arrive in Three Phases over a period of 5000 years.

• Native Americans have blood type AB.

                               

Maps depicting each phase of the three-step early human migrations for the peopling of the Americas.

Where did they come from?

• Many scientist believe they migrated in from Siberia across the Bering Land Bridge

• 1st wave of migrants was 17k-11k years ago

• 3 main migrations are believed to have existed

• Native Americans reject this theory and have their own creation stories

Iroquois

• Location= NE U.S and E Canada

• Most Powerful of all native groups living in the U.S

• Coordinated the Iroquois Confederation

Iroquois Longhouse

Iroquois nation 1914

Iroquois Confederation

• Completed by 1525

• Protects the 6 groups within the league

• Included a Great Binding Law AKA the Iroquois Constitution

• Oldest formal government known in the United States

The 5 nations of the Iroquois Confederation

“Older Brothers”= Mohawks and Senecas

• “Younger Brothers”= Cayugas and Oneidas

• “Keepers of the Council Fire”= Onangagas

• “junior member”= Tuscarora (1722)

Representation

• Council of Fifty= made up by chiefs from each of the 5 tribes

• Clan mothers appoint council members

• Great deeds elevated men to higher ranks to offer input in Council matters

• Clan membership not equal

• Each tribe has veto power

Rules of Council“one heart, one mind, one law”

C ou n ci l H ie ra rchy

K e ep ers o f the C o u nc i l F ire

co n firm o p in io ns re fe r op in io n ba ck to O ld e r B ro the rs

Y o un ge r B ro the rs

O lde r B ro the rs

• Works on consensus

• Any delegate can bring up matter for discussion

Faith Keepers = Onangagas

• Keep Wampum• Wampum = unique to

the NE Native Americans

• Way to record and send messages

• Purple and white beads woven into messages

Ne Gayaneshagowa

• Iroquois Confederation’s Constitution

• Similar to U.S Constitution

1. Both provide for a federal government

2. Has internal sovereignty

3. Very detailed and defines roles of members and non-members http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/iroquois.html

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

Control of great lakes=great wealth

European Contact

• League fought Europeans for control of fur trade

• Traded fur with Dutch (beaver) in exchange for weapons

• Weapons made Iroquois nation supreme to other Indian nations

Beaver Wars early 1600’s

• Iroquois killed beaver population

• Decided to expand into other nations

• This conflicted with European motives

• Wars broke out

Joseph Bryant “Theyendenaegea”

• Famous Mohawk tribal leader 1742-1807• Fought in French-Indian war under Sir

William Johnson• Fought in Pontiac’s Rebellion• Was for British in American Revolution• Established reservations in Canada• Translated Book of Common Prayer and

Gospel of Mark into Mohawk language

Joseph BryantSame Person?