Iroquois of the Eastern Woodlands The Storyteller by

Iroquois of the Eastern Woodlands The Storyteller by L. F. Tantillo

The Iroquois of the Eastern Woodlands Territory: In the fertile land of the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence River

Iroquois Villages and Towns Protected by log walls called palisades. Outside walls were large fields of various crops – the Iroquois were farmers. Inside the walls were the longhouses. Size of the Towns 500 – 1300 – 1400 – 1600 250 people 1000 people 2000+ people 8 longhouse 12 big longhouses many longhouses

Longhouses - Could be over 200 feet (70 m) in length - Built about a framework covered with elm bark - Extended Family lived in the longhouse - Each Nuclear Family had its own hearth (fire pit) and compartment - Longhouses were managed and controlled by the Clan Mother

Food – Agriculture - Women owned and maintained the fields. - Men were responsible for clearing the fields. - Iroquois had 6 agricultural festivals in a year. Crops The “Three Sisters” Corn – around 500 CE Beans – around 1300 to 1400 CE Squash – around 1300 to 1400 CE Later Crops: - Sunflowers - Pumpkins - Tobacco

The Iroquois Confederacy (The League of Five Nations) • An Iroquois man named Dekanahwideh created the Iroquois Confederacy in the 1400’s. • He brought together five main groups of Iroquois in peace. • In the 1700’s another group joined to make it the Confederacy of Six Nations. • Each decision made in this confederacy was by consensus • A chief would respect a group’s decision. • In this kind of political structure, decision making took a long time. • Peace was the most important part of the Confederacy.

Iroquois Society • Matriarchy – each clan was headed by a Clan Mother. • Matrilineal organization • women owned the property, and • determined kinship - any children became members of mother’s clan • Matrilocal – husband went to live with the wife’s family in their longhouse • Iroquois Confederation Councilmen were called Sachems or “Peace Chiefs” were selected and could be removed by the Clan Mothers.

Spiritual Needs • The Iroquois creator was known as Manitou. • Corn was believed to be an important gift of the Iroquois god—Manitou.

Iroquois Men Roles - Clear fields - Build towns - Hunting trips in winter and fishing in spring - Appointed as Sachems (Peace Chiefs) by women - Warriors and War Chiefs Appearance - Warriors wore their hair in a distinctive scalplock - Men removed all facial and body hair - Tattoos were common (for both sexes)