The Iroquois Nation

1. The Iroquois Nation By Scott, Chris, and Tiffany

2. Where Were They? • The Iroquois lived in and near what is modern day New York.

3. Iroquois tribes • The Iroquois nation was divided into five different tribes: • Mohawk • Oneida • Onondaga • Cayuga • Seneca

4. Iroquois Homes • The Iroquois live in longhouses. These were long houses that were meant to serve as a home to a large extended family. Some Iroquois longhouses had up to 20 families all being related on the mothers side. Longhouses were constructed in a similar way to they way homes are constructed to day. The framework was laid down first then covered with the drywall or in this case tree bark . After that the interiors were built and the home was completed.

5. Iroquois culture pt 1 Customs • In the Iroquois culture women were important. Because of this once a man was married he would live with his wife’s clan. • Another custom in the Iroquois culture was to hold Six large festivals a year. At the festivals they would make have musical performances with drums and rattles made from gourds or turtle shells. These festivals were the New Year Festival, Maple Festival, Corn Planting Festival, Strawberry Festival, Green Corn Festival, and the Harvest Festival of thanksgiving.

6. Iroquois culture pt2 • The Iroquois wore vests, blouses, long skirts, leggings, moccasins, and kilt-like skirts. • Iroquois art included, paintings on animal hides, decorative pots used for cooking and, carved animals made from bone, clay, or wood. • Corn husks also became a medium for art work. Toys, masks, and moccasin covers were made with it.

7. Iroquois culture pt 3 • The Iroquois spoke different languages according to the tribe. Many Iroquois spoke most to these languages which are, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Tuscarora, and later English and French. • The most popular example of what the Iroquois did in their leisure time is what we know today as lacrosse. • When it was snowing the Iroquois often went sledding.

8. Daily Life • FEMALE: normal household duties (producing/preserving/preparing food, clothing for family, taking care of children) participated in activities commonly reserved for men (gambling, Medicine Societies, political ceremonies) did the farming • MALE: moved into the wives home, did the hunting (deer, fish) cleaned and prepared the land for crops, played lacrosse, wore a Mohawk, had tattoos, traded furs with Europeans for useful trade goods (guns, axes, knives, hoses pots needles scissors and nails

9. Famous Stroies • One of the famous stories is the legend of the dream catcher. When the world was still young a Lakota spiritual leader had a vision. In it the great trickster and teacher of wisdom (iktomi) turned into a spider and spun a web made of many things, he spoke of the cycle of life and how we changed from infant to child to adult and finally to where we get old and have to be taken care of like a infant which completed the cycle. He then said that in each life you face many good and bad forces- the good steering you to the right direction and the bad to the wrong direction hurting you. Iktomi then continued saying that there were many forces and directions that can interfere or help with the harmony of nature- while saying that he spun form the outside in. when he finished speaking he gave Lakota the web and showed him the perfect circle with a hole in the center. He instructed him to use the web to help him and his people to reach goals and make good use of ideas. He passed his vision to his people and they still use the dream catcher as the web of their life. The good dreams were captured and the bad ones escaped thru the hole to no longer be apart of them. They believe that the dream catcher holds the destiny of their future.

10. Famous Tribe Members • Henry Armstrong – He was a famous boxer and member of the Iroquois tribe. • Jay Silverheels- actor portrayed tonto, companion to the lone ranger, is of Canadian Mohawk origin

11. Iroquois Warfare • Warfare • The weapons they used were deadly. The favorite weapon of the Iroquois was the tomahawk. It was neat for one reason. There were 2 ways to use it. You could use it in hand-to-hand combat or You could throw it Even on horseback. It was usually made of stone and wood. • The Iroquois fought the French throughout the creating of the colony in Canada. No one was safe in the st Lawrence valley. The French population and strength grew, the Iroquois drifted southward into upper New York State and the eastern Great Lakes. The Iroquois raided the French use a hit and run style of warfare. The Iroquois traded things like steel knives and tomahawks as well as guns, powder, and ammunition. Armed with modern European weapons, the Iroquois were an irresistible force.  • The Iroquois then went southwest and attacked a small Illinois village and killed the women and children but the men drove back and defeated them.

12. Food • They ate was mostly Turkeyand other wild birds. As well as deer, rabbits, and fish. They also dug clams and oysters along the coast. Iroquois people also picked many wild foods, including blueberries, mushrooms, and wild roots that were similar to carrots and potatoes. The fishermen use spears and fishing poles to Catch Fish. • The Iroquois were very grateful for their harvests. They held six festivals each year to say prayers of thanks to their gods. 

13. Scources • http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/IroquoisVillage/constructiontwo.html • http://www.greatdreams.com/native/nativehsg.htm • http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/reports1/iroquois2.htm • http://www.iroquoismuseum.org/ve2.htm • http://www.peace4turtleisland.org/pages/longhouse.htm • http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/usa/iroquois-indian-weapons/2958 • http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/before1500/food/iroquois.htm