Native American Dance
The Haudenosaunee
Who are the Haudenosaunee?
(hoe-de-no-SHOW-nee)
• “People who build a house”
• The name refers to a confederation among six Native American
nations who are more commonly known as the Iroquois
Confederacy.
• New York's first inhabitants.
• Nations can be found mainly in Upstate NY Finger Lakes Region
and Canada.
• Each Nation has it’s own identity.
These Nations are known as:
•
Mohawk: “People of the Flint”, Easternmost nation in Haudenosaunee territory.
Responsible for protecting and defending the eastern boundaries of their territory.
•
Oneida (o-NY-da): “People fo the Standing Stone”
•
Onondaga (on-nen-DA-ga): “People of the Hills” or “Keepers of the Fire.” This nation
is considered the capital of the Confederacy.
•
Cayuga (ka-Yoo-ga): “People of the Great Swamp”
•
Seneca: “People of the Great Hill” or “Keepers of the Western Door” Responsible for
protecting and defending the eastern boundaries of their territory.
•
Tuscarora: “The Shirt Wearing People”, migrated from North Carolina in 1722
seeking refuge among the Haudenosaunee.
•
Although many cultural similarities and family connection untie the six nations each
one is also unique and has its own distinct language.
The Great Law of Peace
•
One of the most important events that shaped the Haudenosaunee was the creation
of the Great Law of peace.
•
It guides them through all aspects of life.
•
The full rendition of the story takes days to tell.
•
The teachings emphasize the power of reason, not force, to assure the three
principles of the law: Righteousness, Justice, and Health.
•
The Great Law of peace guides the Haudenosaunee on how to treat others and
directs them how to maintain a democratic society.
•
The Law is one of the earliest examples of a formal democratic governance structure.
It was the guide the founding fathers used when drafting the U.S. Constitution.
•
The Haudenosaunee Grand Council is the oldest governmental institution still
maintaining its original form in North America.
Haudenosaunee Clan System
• Each of the six nations is comprised of extended
family group called clans.
• A clan mother heads each clan.
• In the past a clan mother was the oldest woman
of the clan. Today they are chosen for their
cultural wisdom and dedication to the
Haudenosaunee people.
• The clans are named after animals and birds.
Roles of the Clan Mothers
•
•
•
•
Make all the major decisions that affect the clan.
Assign names to people in her clan
Nominate the male leader of the clan.
Help ensure that all members of her clan are
fed.
• People belonging to the same clan are related,
regardless of their community location. When
people traveled to other communities, they were
welcomed by relatives of their same clan.
Hoyaneh
(ho-YA-ne)
• Means “Caretaker of the Peace.”
• Is the chief of his clan and it is his duty to
help make decisions that affect the Six
Nations.
• A Hoyaneh is selected for life and is not
paid.
• A clan member can not run for office, they
are chosen after years of observation as
mothers watch their young boys grow.
Longhouses
•
Extended families belonging to the same clan lived together in houses called
longhouses.
•
As the clan grew the houses were expanded to accommodate the families.
•
On average, they measured approximately eighty to one hundred feet in length and
twenty feet wide.
•
Men were responsible for building the longhouses and the entire community
participated in their construction.
•
In the 1600’s a typical village consisted of between two hundred and three thousand
people.
•
Villages were located near forested areas an near water ways.
•
A historic longhouse is located in the town of Ganondagan and serves as a cultural
center for the Seneca.
From Longhouses to Log Houses
• Life for the Haudenosaunee changed dramatically after the
Revolutionary War.
• Much of the land was seized by the American government and sold
to settlers, who constructed houses, highways, reservoir dams,
railroads and other projects.
• After the conclusion of the Revolutionary War Haudenosaunee
reservations were established in the U.S. and Canada. It is at this
time they moved from longhouses to single family dwellings.
• Today, Haudenosaunee people live like anyone else, in houses and
apartment buildings.
• Longhouses are used for civic, ceremonial, political, social, and
cultural events.
Relationship to the Natural World
• The Haudenosaunee calendar is measured on a
lunar cycle of 13 months.
• They celebrate several festivals during the year
when people come together to honor,
acknowledge, and give thanks for natures gifts.
• Prior to European contact, the Haudenosaunee
depended entirely on the resources that nature
provided.
Introduction to New Materials
• By the late 1800s or early 1900s, most
Haudenosaunee people were wearing European
style clothing.
• They have continued to wear traditional style
clothing or Regalia on ceremonial and social
occasions.
• A distinctive feature of Haudenosaunee regalia
is the beadwork.
Symbolism on Clothing
• Woman’s regalia is made from cotton and velvet. It consists of a
skirt, overdress, leggings, and moccasins.
• The designs of the beadwork often represent the environment,
cosmology, and clan symbols.
Gustoweh
(ga-STOH-weh)
• Haudenosaunee men wear gustowehs. It is a fitted hat that is
decorated with hawk, pheasant, or turkey feathers. Some are
decorated with silver, animal hide, and hair.
• Each nation has a different number and position of eagle feathers on
their gustoweh, although the individual artistry make each on
unique.
What is the Importance of dance in Native American
societies?
•
Dances were used for many purposes, such as ceremonial, story telling and
entertainment.
•
For the Haudenosaunee both social dance and sacred dances are aspects
of prayer as a are the songs and chants that accompanying the dances.
•
They sing and dance as a way of communicating to their Creator they are
thankful and happy for their life and good health.
•
It is a way of giving thanks beyond words
•
Native American’s use social dancing as a way of passing their culture to
the next generation.
Native American Music and Dance
• Music and dance help the people celebrate the gift of life, health,
friendship, and good times.
• Music and dance bring the Haudenosaunee community together. In
the Longhouse Religion, the people dance to give thanks to the
Creator. In social dancing, friends and family, Haudenosaunee and
non-Haudenosaunee dance together for enjoyment and to reinforce
relationships.
What kind of instruments do they use?
•
Cow horn Rattles are used to produce the rhythm for song and dance. They
can be either hit against the thigh, the palm of the hand, or shaken. Rattles
made of cow horn were not made until after European contact. Prior to the
introduction of cows, rattle materials were limited to bark, gourd, and turtle
shell. The inside of the horn is shaved thin and dried corn, small stones,
cherry pits, or small metal balls inserted to create the sound.
Tell me more please!
•
Water Drums are often used with the cow horn rattle to produce the rhythms
for dance and song. Water is placed inside the drum. Great care must be
taken so that the water will not dry up, the wood dry, and the drum split. The
drum is tipped regularly to moisten the skin to maintain its tightness and
proper tone.
•
The skin on the drum reminds the people to respect the animals. The
wooden base of the drum reminds the people to respect the plants and
trees. The water in the drum reminds the people that we need water to live.
The round shape of the drum reminds the people of the circle of life. The
beat of the drum reminds the people of the beating of our hearts and that
we should cherish the gift of life.
Sacred Songs & Dances
• The Haudenosaunee have embedded their sacred beliefs in
traditional ceremonies.
• Each ritual dance have several sacred songs.
• Three important sacred ceremonies are the Curing Dances, Sacred
Society Dances and Sustenance Dances.
• The Curing Dances and the Sacred Society Dances are private
ceremonies.
• The Sustenance Dance is one of the most prominent social dances.
The Sustenance Dances
• Sustenance refers to the foods the Haudenosaunee ancestors
gathered and ate over the centuries.
• It includes the Corn Dance, the Bean Dance, and the Squash
Dance.
• Corn, beans and squash were planted in one hill and sustained
each other.
• The beans climbed up the corn stalks, the wide squash leaves kept
the weeks down and helped keep the hill moist after a rain.
• They call this trio the three sisters because they help each other
grow and provide sustenance for the Haudenosaunee.
Standing Quiver Dance
• A quiver was the arrow case a hunter carried over his shoulder.
When the village organized a hunting party, the Chief would ask
those who wished to go hunting to stand in the middle of the woods.
He would count to the quivers to see how many hunters were
available. The villagers performed a farewell dance to wish them
luck. When the hunter’s returned they would perform the dance
again as a welcome and thanksgiving for the hunter’s success.
• Video Clip
The Moccasin Dance
• Led by men, uses circular patterns, water drum and cow horn rattles
accompany the dance.
• Dance begins counterclockwise, using a very fast toe-heel step with
body movement.
• After the lead dancers dance for one song, more pairs of male
dancers join them.
• Women join the dance at the start of the third song, each stepping
between a pair of men.
• The pairs of men and women alternate in a big circle around the
singers.
• A brief change in beat signals the dancers to change positions with
their partner, this leads to moments of improvisation as the “leaders”
of the dance change.
• Video Clip
The Round Dance
• Brought to Allegheny Seneca 50 years ago after a visit to their
southern relatives’ longhouse.
• Has a backing up step with circles that move in opposite directions.
• The dance is accompanied by singers who stand in the middle of the
circle.
• The dancers face inward until a change in the music signals them to
move reverse direction.
• As the circles fill up with dancers joining in, new circles form.
• Video Clip
Haudenosaunee Social Dancing Today
• The Haudenosaunee regularly hold socials at Six Nations and other
Canadian reserves. Most of the dances and songs are 50 years old
or more. The Moccasin Dance, the Cherokee Stomp Dance and the
New Women’s Shuffle Dance are the only three that sometimes get
new songs.
• Video clip
• Woman's Shuffle Dance Video
• Pow Wow Grand Entry Video
Types of Movements
• Jumps, hops, skips, and leaps