A group of Iroquois dancers at a powwow
Iroquois
The Iroquois Confederacy was a league of five nations, including the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. The Tuscarora tribe joined later, forming the Six Nations. They mainly lived around the Finger Lakes and Mohawk Valley in what is now known as upstate New York.
What was life like for this tribe?
Shelter: The Iroquois lived in longhouses. Many longhouses housed five to ten families, depending on the size. Longhouses were made with wooden frames and large sheets of elm bark and could be 40 to 100 feet long.
Clothing: The Iroquois mainly wore clothing made from deerskin. Women wore skirts, dresses, or leggings. Men wore shirts, leggings, and breechcloths, which were a piece of deerskin between their legs. Men and women wore soft leather shoes called moccasins. In the winter, they used fur robes to stay warm.
Food: The Iroquois grew corn, beans, and squash – called the “Three Sisters” because they were planted together and helped each other grow. Men hunted deer and bear, fished, and sometimes hunted moose and elk. Women and children gathered nuts, fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and bird eggs. They made dishes like succotash and corn soup, gathered maple syrup, and dried meat to preserve it.
Transportation: The Iroquois used canoes to travel on rivers and lakes. In the winter, they used snowshoes, and dogs helped carry small loads. Walking was also common.
Tools: The Iroquois used knives, spears, bows and arrows, tomahawks, war clubs, and hunting traps. They made wooden hoes for farming. They also made fishing poles and spears.
Religion: The Iroquois believed in a Great Creator who made the world. They believed in a Sky World where souls went after death and that all things had spiritual energy. They held religious ceremonies throughout the year with prayers, dances, masks, and offerings like burning tobacco.
Language: Each nation spoke a different language within the Iroquoian language family.
Arts and Crafts: The Iroquois made pottery, jewelry, wooden sculptures, and ceremonial masks. They also made intricate beadwork using shell beads called wampum, which were used in storytelling, ceremonies, and to record agreements and events. Wampum later became valuable in trade with Europeans.
Family Life: Iroquois women were in charge of the household, farming, and leadership, and they played a key role in decision-making. Men hunted, fished, and traded. Families belonged to clans named after animals like Wolf, Bear, or Turtle. Clan members shared food and supported each other.
What are some important people and events for this tribe?
Deganawida, known as The Great Peacemaker, and Hiawatha worked together to unite the five tribes and form the Iroquois Confederacy. They created the Great Law of Peace, a constitution promoting peace and unity among the nations. During the American Revolution (1775-1783), the United States fought for its independence against the British. The Iroquois tribes were divided in their support, with some tribes supporting the Americans and others supporting the British. Many Iroquois villages were attacked, and their crops burned. After the U.S. won, the tribes that supported the British lost their lands. Many Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora people stayed in New York on reservations. The Oneida moved to Wisconsin, and other tribes relocated to Ontario, Canada.
What is happening today?
Today, the Iroquois have several reservations in New York and Wisconsin and reserves in Ontario, Canada. These communities include the Seneca, Onondaga, Tuscarora, Oneida, Cayuga, and Mohawk Nations, which work to preserve their language, culture, and traditions.
A replica of an Iroquois longhouse
