Historical Background
of the
Iroquois
A Union of five
• The Iroquois
(Haudenosacnee) was a
union between tribes
• The Iroquois were
originally made up of five
tribes
• These tribes were the
Caguga, Mohawk, Onedia,
Onodaga, and the Seneca
A sixth tribe
• A sixth tribe, the
Tuscarora joined the
Iroquois to make it six
tribes
• The Iroquois was formed
before European contact
• The Iroquois had a
consitution known as
Gayunashagowa (The
Great Peace)
Spirits
• Had a concept that life is a
struggle between Good
and Evil
• Believed that spirits
animated all of nature and
caused the seasons to
change
• Festivals happened during
important parts of the year
(harvesting, planting,etc...)
Gods themselves
• The Iroquois had many
Deities
• Hahgwohdiyu (Creator God)
• Yosheka (Creator God)
• Athahensic (Sky Goddess)
out of her corpse grew the
gift of humans. Represents:
pregnancy, fertility, feminine
skills
• Onatha (Patron of Farmers)
Represents: fertility of soil,
harvesting
• Tarhuhgiaawhku (Giant who
held up the Sky)
Culture
How things were
• The Iroquois laws
were decided by a
Council of Chiefs
• Council worked in a
democracy
• Spoke the Wendat
language
Housing
• They Lived in Longhouses
• Longhouses sometimes were
over 100 meters long and 5-7
meters wide
• Longhouse were made to hold
extended families
• Held 20 or more families per
longhouse
Travel
• Walked, Jogged, Ran,
Swam anything using
there two legs
• Preferred to traveled
in water with Dugout
canoes
How things were run
• The women owned the
soil and the land
• Men and women
followed the status of
their mother
• Clan Mothers and
their sisters selected
Chiefs and removed
them
What they said
• No written language
• Spoke the Wendat
Language
Susquehannock
Tadadaho
Deganawidah
Onayotekaono
Guyohkohnyoh
Onondowahgah
Ska-Ruh-Reh
Kanien'kéhaka
Onundagaono
What they wore
• Raw Hide (Before
European contact)
• Combination of raw
hide and European
garb actual fashion
changed from person
to person
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Wikipedia
Books
Five/Six nations map
Sky Women
Nature Spirit
Totems
Iroquois Flag
Council of Chiefs
Longhouse
Dugout Canoe
Family
Clothes
Iroquois Clothes