IROQUOIS INDIANS
Teaching American History
Inez Cutler
H0W DID NATIVE AMERICANS COME
TO THE FOREST?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO
KNOW?

WHAT HAVE YOU
LEARNED?
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Click On the media clip to preview
this video.
Iroquois Population
1600’s
probably less
than 20,000
After1660’s
increased
and rose to about
25,000
1768’s
decreased
to
only
12,000
End of Revolutionary
War – less than 8,000
1940’s =17,000
Today=70,000
Iroquois Indians- LOCATION
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Archeological evidence indicates the
Iroquois lived in upstate New York
before the Europeans arrived.
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The Onondaga were the first of the
Iroquois tribes that can be positively
identified in New York.

This seem to have begun after the
merger of two villages sometime
between 1450 and 1475.
Iroquois Indians – LOCATION
(cont’d)
Who are the Iroquois?

The Iroquois people were
named by their enemies.
They were given the name
(Irinakhoiw) meaning
“rattlesnakes”. Later
changing to the Iroquois.

The largest make up of the
Iroquois people was the
Mohawks. The Mohawks
totaled to more than 35,000
members.
Who are the Iroquois (cont’d)

The Iroquois women were a major part of the
Indian culture. The Iroquois tribes were divided
into three clans, the bear, turtle, and the wolf.
These tribes were all headed by a clan mother.
Iroquois – CULTURE
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The Iroquois people
custom was to follow the
woman heritage line to
determine kinship.
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This is where family social
structure is determined
by the mothers’ family
line. Women also owned
all property.
Iroquois – CULTURE (cont’d)
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Agriculture provided most of their diet: corn, beans,
squash, and fish. They worshiped and celebrated the
importance of the agriculture in their culture by their
six annual festivals to celebrate their harvest.
Shelter
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When the Iroquois people married, the husband
moved into the long house with the wife, and the
children became part of her clan.
The Longhouse
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IT IS A LONG WOODEN BUILDING IN WHICH SEVERAL
IROQUOIS FAMILIES LIVE TOGETHER.
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IT WAS MADE OF ELM BARK AND HAD A LARGE DOOR AT
EACH END.
Inside the Longhouse
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The longhouse could be over
200’ in length. It could house
many people.

Inside the longhouse the
Ir0quois kept all of the
necessities for their clan.

These villages were very
stable, unless interrupted and
moved for defense purposes.
LEGENDS AND STORIES

THE IROQUOIS OFTEN USED LEGENDS OR STORIES
HANDED DOWN OVER TIME, TO EXPLAIN THE
PAST.
IROQUOIS MYTHS and LEGENDS
http://www.webwinds.com/yupanqui/iroquoisdreams3.htm
Dekanawida’s Legend
“PEACE AND UNITY”
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THE IROQUOIS MUST COME TOGETHER BY TAKING HOLD
OF EACH OTHER’S HANDS SO FIRMLY AND FORMING A
CIRCLE SO STRONG THAT IF A TREE SHOULD FALL UPON
IT, IT COULD NOT SHAKE NOT BREAK IT, SO THAT OUR
PEOPLE AND GRANDCHILDREN SHALL REMAIN IN THE
CIRCLE IN SECURITY, PEACE, AND HAPPINESS.
Iroquois League
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MEN FROM EACH OF THE
FIVE TRIBES SERVED ON
THE GREAT COUNCIL.
THE OLDEST WOMEN OF
EACH TRIBE CHOSE THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
EACH MEMBER HAD ONE
VOTE.
ALL HAD TO AGREE
BEFORE ANYTHING WAS
DONE.
The Five Nations
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IN 1570 THE MEMBERS OF
THE IROQUOIS FORMED A
CONFEDERATION OR LOOSE
GROUPS OF GOVERNMENTS.
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EACH TRIBE GOVERNED
ITSELF.

MATTERS THAT WERE
IMPORTANT TO ALL, SUCH AS
WAR AND TRADE WERE
DECIDE BY A GREAT
COUNCIL.
The Iroquois Flag and the Hiawatha
Wampum Belt
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The Hiawatha wampum belt is
comprised of thirty eight rows.
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A heart as a great tree is located in the
center.
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On both sides of the tree there are two
squares, all are connected with the
heart by white rows of wampum.

The belt is the emblem of unity among
the Five Nations.
United We Stand Divided We
FALL
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The most important part
of the Iroquois people
was their ability to be
united.

This is how the Iroquois
won many battles against
other tribes as well as
outside forces.
LAW of the LAND

The Iroquois were only required to maintain
peace with one another.

The primary law of the land was called the
Kainerekowa- which eloquently stated….
Iroquois
“SHOULD NOT KILL ONE ANOTHER!”
Working
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The Iroquois people were no strangers to hard work.
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They were hired to help during the construction of the
Dominion Bridge in Montreal, and they showed no fear
of heights.
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They have continued to being part of the construction of
almost every major bridge or skyscraper.
References
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http://www.totatsga.org/iro.html
Harcourt Brace (2000). Early united states.
http://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/americanhistorycentral/
02indiansofnorthamerica/The_Iroquois.html#TXTANC20
018126639310
http://www.sixnations.org/
http://romlx6.rom.on.ca/digs/longhouse/
http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/IroquoisVillage/construction
one.html