The seasons were extreme. Winters were harsh and brought blizzards and storms which made hunting for food very difficult. Summers were extremely hot. The Iroquois had to fight against the heat to ensure that their crops weren’t dried out and their water supply was plentiful.
Blackburn , Andy. “Native American Longhouse at the Hans Herr House & Museum.” Lancaster Online , Willow Street, PA, 29 Jan. 2015, lancasteronline.com/features/curb-appeal-native-american-longhouse/article_2c87faf8-a725-11e4-8bc3-2f12ef1988eb.html.
Haudenosaunee
Beliefs
Ceremonies
Haudenosaunee Ceremony . Mohawk Nation News, 25 June 2013, mohawknationnews.com/blog/2013/06/25/mnn-small-condolence/.
Anthropomorphism: the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object.
Great Spirit
Native American Museum. The Great Spirit. 2018,https://nativeamericanmuseum.wikispaces.com/file/view/Iroquois%20Religion.jpg/348708584/Iroquois%20Religion.jpg
Everything has a spirit.
Ceremonies to celebrate these spirits.
NYS Common Core Standards
4.2 NATIVE AMERICAN GROUPS AND THE ENVIRONMENT: Native American groups, chiefly the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Algonquian-speaking groups, inhabited the region that became New York State. These people interacted with the environment and developed unique cultures.
(Standards: 1, 3, 5; Themes: ID, MOV, GEO, GOV)
4.2a Geographic factors often influenced locations of early settlements. People made use of the resources and the lands around them to meet their basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter.
Students will examine the locations of early Native American groups in relation to geographic features, noting how certain physical features are more likely to support settlement and larger populations.
Students will investigate how Native Americans such as the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and the Algonquian-speaking peoples adapted to and modified their environment to meet their needs and wants.
4.2b Native American groups developed specific patterns of organization and governance to manage their societies.
Students will compare and contrast the patterns of organization and governance of Native American groups such as the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Munsees, including matrilineal clan structure, decision-making processes, and record keeping, with a focus on local Native American groups.
4.2c Each Native American group developed a unique way of life with a shared set of customs, beliefs, and values.
Students will examine Native American traditions; work specialization and the roles of men, women, and children in their society; transportation systems; and technology.
Students will examine contributions of Native Americans that are evident today.
Hiawatha Belt
Wikipedia . Wampum Belt Commemorating the Iroquois Confederacy. Wikipedia , 5 Feb. 2015, upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/PSM_V28_D311_Wampum_belt_commemorating_the_iroquois_confederacy.jpg.
The white squares and the tree represent each of the 5 original nations. The white lines extending throughout the belt represent the path of peace. The Tuscarora Nation joined after the belt was created.
Symbol of unity of the 5 original Haudenosaunee nations.
Village Life
The Iroquois did not waste any part of the animal. Bones and other inedible parts were made into tools, spoons, knives, and other household items.
Native American Tools. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Native_Americans_in_Oregon_tools.jpg.
The land that they settled on had rich and fertile soil. This was ideal for crops and farming. Farming provided most of the food for the diet. Men were responsible for clearing the fields while the women did the planting. Mainly, the Iroquois cultivated corn, squash, and beans which are known as the
Corn, squash, and beans are known as the Three sisters to the Haudenosaunee. The Three Sisters are considered divine gifts. When eaten together, these three foods provide the vitamins and minerals necessary for a healthy body and a well-balanced diet.
Onondaga. The Three Sisters . onondaga64.wikispaces.com/file/view/fruit.jpeg.
The Three Sisters. shtfseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/three-sisters4-550x309.jpg.
The Three Sisters. ccenativeamericans.wikispaces.com/file/view/nagarden.jpg/115670553/nagarden.jpg.
Men hunted using bows and arrows. Whatever the men brought back from their hunt was cooked by the women and shared among the village.
Women and children gathered nuts, fruits, and vegetables to be eaten if the meat supply was scarce.
Every 20 to 30 years, Haudenosaunee communities relocated to different areas as firewood became scarce. This move also allowed the soil to replenish after housing crops for many years.
Haudenosaunee people spent most of their time outdoors except in the cold winter months. During the cold months, the longhouse became the center of community life.
In the winter months, people repaired clothing and tools in order to get ready for the busy spring ahead.
The location of the villages was important because the forests allowed the Haudenosaunee to hunt for food and have access to fresh water. The forests also provided the Haudenosaunee village with protection. Villages were also usually surrounded by tall wooden fences.
[Laura Herrmann]. (2014, September 29) Iroquois- Native Peoples of the Woodlands [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPD9XIkUd-E&t=315s
5:05-5:18
A typical Haudenosaunee village in the 1600s consisted of 2,000-3,000 people. Villages were located in clearings near forested areas and near waterways.
[منوعات منوعات]. (2017, October 10) Beautiful Flowing Stream [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCKyUX42s08
Main topic
The Haudenosaunee is a confederation among 6 Native American nations who are commonly known as the Iroquois Confederacy.
Wikipedia . “Iroquois Six Nations c. 1720.” Iroquois , Wikipedia , upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Iroquois_6_Nations_map_c1720.png.
Wikipedia. “Iroquois Five Nations c. 1650.” Iroquois, Wikipedia,upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Iroquois_5_Nation_Map_c1650.png.
The Tuscarora are known as the shirt wearing people. These people traveled north from what is modern day North Carolina seeking refuge
The Seneca are known as the people of the great hill as well as the keepers of the western door because they are the nation that is the furthest west.
The Cayuga are known as the people of the great swamp.
The Onondaga are known as the people of the hills. They are also known as the keepers of the central fire because they are considered the capital of the confederacy.
The Oneida are known as the people of the standing stone.
The Mohawk are known as the “keepers of the Eastern Door. They are the nation that is the furthest east.
Sources:
National Museum of the American Indian. “Haudenosaunee Guide for Educators.” nmai.si.edu/sites/1/files/pdf/education/HaudenosauneeGuide.pdf.
Climate
Longhouses
Iroquois Village. c1.staticflickr.com/3/2120/2465877439_0c30105b10_b.jpg.
Inside of a Longhouse . upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Iroquoian_Village%2C_Ontario%2C_Canada40.JPG.
Wikipedia. “Traditional Iroquois Longhouse.” Iroquois , Wikipedia, upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Theiroquoislonghouse.png.
Longhouses measured 80 to 100 feet in length and 20 feet wide.
Those belonging to the same clan lived together in houses called longhouses. About 60 people would live in a longhouse.
Longhouses were built from cedar or hickory poles that was covered in tree bark. Smoke holes were located in the roof above fireplaces to provide proper ventilation.
Each of the six nations of Haudenosaunee is comprised of extended family groups called clans.
The Nine Iroquois Clans. 2016, ps79q.wikispaces.com/file/view/Clan%20Symbols.png/570163475/800x322/Clan%20Symbols.png.
Clans are named after animals and birds.
Clans are like extended families. The clans of the Haudenosaunee are matrilineal meaning that they follow the descent of the mother. Children belong to their mother’s clan. When a couple gets married, the husband moves into the wives’ home but doesn’t change clans.
Clans are headed by a clan mother. In the past, a clan mother was usually the oldest woman of the clan. Today, clan mothers are chosen for their cultural wisdom and dedication to the Haudenosaunee people. Clan mother’s responsibilities include making important decisions affecting the clan and naming the people in her clan.
Subtopic
Oneida Nation. Picture of the Great Council . 2018, oneida-nation.wikispaces.com/Political+Structure.
Means "people of the longhouse"
