Native Americans
In North America
Three Phase Migration of Native
Ameiricans to Ameica
Maps depicting each phase of the three-step early human migrations for the peopling of the Americas.
• Scientists believe that
the Native Americans
arrive in Three Phases
over a period of 5000
years.
• Native Americans
have blood type AB.
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”
• Works on consensus
• Any delegate can bring up matter for
discussion
Council Hierarchy
Older Brothers
Younger Brothers
Keepers of the Council Fire
confirm opinions
refer opinion back to Older Brothers
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
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1.
2.
3.
Iroquois Confederation’s Constitution
Similar to U.S Constitution
Both provide for a federal government
Has internal sovereignty
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
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•
•
•
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 Bryant
Same Person?