The Iroquois of the Easter Woodlands

Ms. PakkarSS 9

The Iroquois Confederacy FlagSix Nations in Union

The Six Nations

An Iroquoian Legend

Source for the legend and images: http://www.sixnationsindianmuseum.com/legends.html

“'Haudenosaunee' “

retrieved from: http://mysite.verizon.net/richvitto/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Longhouse.gif

Made with poles covered with flat sheets of

bark ~ 11metres wide and 45-55 metres long The inside: long open building with a central

corridor – where fire pits burned Where did families live? Areas separated by

partitions on each side of the fire. They were like small apartment blocks where extended families lived

Other purposes: religious buildings and storage

What is a longhouse?

“The longhouse symbolizes a way

of life where the Six Nations Confederacy live under one common law, think with one mind and speak with one voice. That law is called ‘Gien na sah nah gonah’ the Great Law of Peace.”

Source: http://iroquoisnationals.org/1.7/index.php/about-us/history

How did they do it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amvv4P4DzJU

What did they eat?3 sisters (corn, beans, squash),

seeds, nuts, and berries, milkweed, skunk cabbage, mustard grass,deer, bear, beaver, elk, geese, ducks, pigeons, fish

GoverningSeveral families in one longhouse chose one female elder as head

Families of 2 more longhouses “clan” (related through common female ancestor)

The “clan mother” chose male sachems to represent clan interests at tribal councils

Met at least once a year to discuss general matters

A chief’s decisions were often influenced by the clan mother.

“In 1987, the Congress of the United States unanimously passes Concurrent Resolution S.76, recognizing the contribution of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) to the democratic principles of the Constitution of the United States.”

Source: http://secondaryellinsurrey.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/adapted-ss9-crossroads-ch-7-canadas-first-people1.pdf

Lacrosse: The “Little War” (Cherokee)

An Iroquoian Invention

How it was playedAn Iroquoian invention as early as the 12th century

Originally played to give thanks and pray to the gods and for medicinal purposes still done today

Original version – possibly hundreds of people could play at a time; mile-long field; played for days

“Before the game, the team gathers around their spiritual advisor who leads a traditional tobacco-burning rite, among other rituals that prepare the players to take the field.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJJmnnsKDNk