UTA October 2010 - Iroquois

This is the blog site for History I: The Iroquois Group. We will discuss the unique attributes of each of the five original tribes that made up the Iroquois Nation and how they benefited from uniting.

Drawings of the Native Tribal People

The final six tribes of the Iroquois. Notice their different "gustoweh" or head pieces

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

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Iroquois Native Indian

Male Iroquois Warrior

Unique Attributes of Each of the Five Tribes

That Make Up the Iroquois Nation

and How They Benefited from Uniting

The Iroquois Nation is known as the Oldest Living Participatory Democracy on Earth. The current Iroquois Nation consists of six tribes, but the original five are the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. It is thought by some that the Iroquois Nation influenced to some degree our American forefathers as they formed the first representative democracy. Our interest lies with the first five tribes. What was unique about each tribe? What did they individually gain by uniting? Join us as we seek to answer these questions.
Dawn L.

The Mohawk Tribe

The Mohawk Tribe which means "People of the Flint", were one of the original and largest members of the Five Nations which joined together with the Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and Cayuga to form the Iroquois Confederacy (also known as Nation or League) . They obtained leadership of the Five Tribes by force with guns from the Dutch fur traders. Culturally the Mohawks were a matrilineal society, meaning the children's lineage was passed from mother to sons and daughters. The Clan Mothers held power to select which men would become chiefs among the tribe. After marriage a brave moved in with the wife's family and lived in dwellings called Longhouses.

Prior to the appearance of the Dutch fur traders the Mohawks had already been given the nickname "Rattlesnake or Adder" by other Iroquois Tribes. They were not well liked because they would fight and attack their own neighbors for hunting territory. They had a fierce reputation for extreme torture and slow roasting of their victims, even cannibalism. As they obtained guns from the Dutch fur traders, they conquered other tribes. The Mohawks allowed the Iroquois to have voting rights, however other conquered tribes were only extended the protection of the Covenant Chain (The conquered Mohican became the first). This was much like the U.S. treatment of Puerto Rico and the Philippines. They handled all of the conquered affairs but did not extend voting rights. Both the French and British took advantage of this central control; the British would call upon the league to police various sub members.
At one point the Mohawks used their fire power to expand their supremacy as far south as Pennsylvania, west through the Ohio Valley, north to Michigan and even into Canada. By 1677 the Iroquois Nation had official treaties as the Five Nations. After that, they operated as a group, not individually.

While their power peaked by 1680 they were eventually forced back into New York by the conclusion of the Beaver Wars and the defeat of the French.
Their unique political system which had allowed them to dominate in the first 200 years of Colonial History, failed due to loss of territories and loss of creditability towards other tribesmen. The Mohawks made poor decisions beginning with the Fort Stanwix treaty of 1784 in which the native people relinquished land in the Ohio Country to the United States government. Their domination continued to deteriorate over the next 60 years which culminated with the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
Pat W.

European Invasion of Indian North America, 1513–1765. Ian K. Steele.
Americans at War. Ed. John P. Resch. Vol. 1: 1500-1815. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. p55-60.Reference USA, 2005. p55-60.s Sons, 2006. p557-559

Iroquois League. Leonard J. Sadosky.
Encyclopedia of the American Revolution: Library of Military History. Ed. Harold E. Selesky. Vol. 1. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2006. p557-559

Map Lands of the Mohawk

Lands of the Mohawk

The Seneca Tribe

The Seneca were the largest of the 5 tribes which comprised the Iroquois League or the Five Nations. Along with the Seneca, the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) League includes the Oneida, Mohawk, Onondaga, and Cayuga. Later the Tuscarora or "shirt wearing people" became the 6th Nation to join the confederacy, fleeing from British occupied North Carolina. Today nearly 10,000 Seneca live on reservations in Western New York (the Cattaraugus, Allegany, and Tonawanda reservations, with some also settled in Oklahoma and Ontario, Canada). They are the only Nation to own a U.S. city, Salamanca, which is situated on land owned by the Allegany Indian reservation.

At the time of the formation of the Iroquois League, the five tribes occupied territory from the East to the West with the Seneca being the "keepers of the western door". The official language of the Seneca is Ogwehoweh, in which their name translates to O-non-dowa-gah, or "great hill people" from which their creation myth said they had originated.

The historical Seneca tribe occupied territory from the Genesee River to Canandaigua Lake in Western New York, living in long houses on the riverside. The sedentary tribe's villages were well fortified with wooden stake fences, just one of their many industrious undertakings. They relied heavily on agriculture for food, growing the three sisters: corn, squash, and beans, which they referred to as deohako, "the life supporters". In addition to raising crops, the Seneca men would hunt in the fall and fish in the spring.

The Seneca women were in charge of elections, and decided who was to become tribal leader. Leaders usually held their posts for life but could be removed if they became corrupt or proved to be incompetent. The Seneca political system also included a constitution, which is believed to have been the model for the American constitution.

One of the Seneca's most important leaders was a man named "Red Jacket". He was a great orator, and left us with many memorable quotes such as "Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power. The sun also shines on the wicked.", and "It is another's fault if he be ungrateful, but it is mine if I do not give." Red Jacket was a strong defender of the Seneca heritage who opposed assimilation with the whites, especially with the missionaries who tried to impose Christianity on the Seneca. Despite his resistance to cultural assimilation, Red Jacket did want to live in peace with the whites, and even fought alongside the British during the American Revolution.

Caroline A.

http://static.newworldencyclopedia.org/1/1e/Red_Jacket_2.jpg
Retrieved 11-14-10

http://www.senecaindians.com/seneca_tribal.htm Last modified: November 28, 2001

Red Jacket of the Seneca Tribe

Chief Red Jacket

The Oneida Tribe text

The Oneida Tribe

The Oneida tribe has the Indian name of Onyotaa:ka which translates to “People of the Upright Stone”. Legend states that this tribe obtained their name when they were chased into a wooded area by their enemy and disappeared. Large rocks were left in the place of their disappearance hence the “Upright Stone”. The Oneida tribe initially inhabited the central New York area. They were nestled between the Mohawk and the Onondaga tribes.

The Oneida tribe was considered the less blood thirsty and more peace minded of the original five tribes of the Iroquois Nation. They were the second tribe to join the Nation. Their reason for inclusion in the Iroquois Nation was much the same as the other tribes; they wanted to form an offensive and defensive alliance for warfare and security. The Oneidas have three clans, the Wolf, Turtle and Bear. Each clan sent three delegates to represent them in the Iroquois Nation for a total of nine for the entire tribe. The Oneida was not unlike the other tribes in the Iroquois Nation in regards to their deference to the women in their tribe. The women selected the chieftains or were the chieftains in many cases. A female chieftain would choose a male to carry out the duties of the chieftain, but retained the position. One interesting note about this tribe is they were the only tribe of the initial five that joined with the colonists in the battle against the British. The other four tribes aligned themselves with the better outfitted Brits. They ended up paying for their loyalty when the war was over. Even though the Unites States initially tried to compensate them the other tribes caused them grief for their stance.
Dawn L.

Ancestry.com, "Oneida Indian Tribe History," Access Geneology, http://www.accessgenealogy.com/
native/tribes/oneida/oneidahist.htm (accessed November 9, 2010).
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nymadiso/bit-of-past/borg/onehisto.htm

Ancestry.com, "Oneida's History," Rootsweb, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nymadiso/
bit-of-past/borg/onehisto.htm (accessed November 9, 2010).

Oneida Woman

Oneida Native Woman

Cayuga Tribe Longhouse

The Cayuga Tribe

The Cayuga Indians (also known as Haudenosaunee or People of the Longhouse) joined the Iroquois League before the year 1600. “The purpose for the uniting was to end the inter-tribal wars and bring peace and well-being to all of the tribes.” (New World Encyclopedia) Within the Iroquois Nation, a government was established which consisted of fifty chiefs; ten of these chiefs were from the Cayuga tribe. The tribe lived in the area that is now considered New York and part of Canada. Cayuga was a nickname for what they called themselves which was the Gayogohono Tribe. Gayogohono stands for “people of the swamp”. The Cayuga built houses that were up to one hundred feet long and made of wood. They called these homes “longhouses” and could hold about sixty people. The Cayuga Indians were a very unique tribe. The women made decisions on resources and land for the farming tribe. These powerful women also voted on which men would be chiefs. The men of the tribe were in charge of decisions with trade and military. (Cayuga Nation)

The Cayuga people sided with the British in the Revolutionary War. In 1779 following the war, General George Washington determined to annihilate the Iroquois Nation. General John Sullivan with James Clinton were dispatched with 6,200 troops to battle in the villages and fields to destroy the Indian-British alliance. The Mohawk, Seneca, and Onondaga also sided with the British against the colonists. Following the colonial campaign against the tribes, the Iroquois relocated into Canada. The Six Nations signed the Treaty of Canandaigua on November 11th, 1794. This treaty, which still exists today, was a peace treaty between the tribes and The United States of America.

Kristie R.

"Cayuga" New England Encyclopediahttp://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/New_World_Encyclopedia:About

Cayuga Nation. People of the Great Swamp. Seneca Falls, NY: Cayuga Nation of New York. On-line. Available from internet, http://cayuganation-nsn.gov/Culture/Clans, accessed October 25, 2010.

The Cayuga Tribe

Modern Ceremonial Dancer

Blog Archive

▼ 2010 (12)
- ▼ November (12)

Contributors:

Dawn L. Leader/Research

Caroline A Research

Denisha H. Research

Kristie R. Research

Pat W. Research

Elizabeth D. IT/Design

Onondaga Tribe text

The Onondaga Tribe

The Onondaga tribe was one of the five original nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. Their traditional homeland is present-day upstate New York. The location was not only the central point between the other four nations (Cayuga and Seneca to their west and the Oneida and Mohawk to their east) but was the location of the Iroquois government, which is still the place of meeting today. The contemporary Onondaga, member of the Six Nation, is located in Ontario, Canada.

The Iroquois Confederacy was formed by the union of the Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Oneida, and Mohawk nations. This alliance brought about a great power. The Onondaga’s contributions were many:
1. Government: The spiritual leader, Tadadaho, served as the fiftieth chief on the council. This title is still used today. There are 50 chiefs in the structured government system of the Iroquois Confederacy. Chiefs are also known as Hoyane. Fourteen of the 50 chiefs are from the Onondaga nation. These positions are held for life. Upon death, clan mothers elect replacement chief(s) to open positions.
2. Lifestyle: As a hunter and gather people, the Onondaga grew corn, bean, and squash. They gathered onion, dandelion, milkweed, and strawberries. They hunted deer, turkey, rabbit, and other game. Because they were a nation for the people, they shared with others in the community. Their clothing which was made of deer skin was made into dresses, leggings, moccasins, and aprons. Their headpiece or gustoweh for the men were distinct to the nation, with two feathers, one pointing up and the other pointing down.
3. Language: The language was Onöñda’gega, meaning “People of the Hills”. It is spoken in the United States and Canada.
4. Religion: The religion includes the Longhouse, Handsome Lake, Gai'hwi:io, Kanoh'hon'io, Kahni'kwi'io, Other Indigenous Religion. They believe in a Creator whom they celebrated with song, dance, and food.
5. Revenue: Traditional Onondaga generate revenue from casino style business on their reservations, while Contemporary Onondaga generate revenue from 24 hour tax-free cigarette smoke shops. The revenue is put back into the community building and restoration.
6. Notables: Notables of the Onondaga nations include a Professional Distance Running Champion, Tom Longboat, whom has many record breaking distance running wins. Oren L. Lyons, faith keeper of the Turtle clan, served in the Army and graduated from Syracuse University College of Fine Arts, whom is active in national and international issues affecting native people.

Denisha H.

New World Encyclopedia contributors, "Onondaga (tribe)," New World Encyclopedia, http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Onondaga_%28tribe%29?oldid=841756 (accessed November 10, 2010).

Onondaga Tribe Picture

Picture of Tom Longboat

The Five Nations in 1650

Conclusion text

The Iroquois Nation was initially formed by five Indian tribes that upon first inspection one would not consider partnership material. From the overly aggressive Mohawks to the peace minded Oneidas it is hard to imagine these tribes were able to see past their differences to a more promising future united. One thing became certain through our research; though these tribes came to the table with unique attributes they had one unifying goal to form an alliance that would provide them with security. Little did they know that their unification would have such long term and profound effects. The Iroquois Nation set an example not just for our founding fathers, but for us if we will take notice. Sometimes accepting each other’s uniqueness and joining together for a common good can produce effects that could exceed our expectations.

Dawn L.

Iroquois Tribe in 1914

References

Ancestry.com, "Oneida Indian Tribe History," Access Genealogy, http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/oneida/oneidahist.htm

(Accessed November 9, 2010).

Ancestry.com, "Oneida's History," Rootsweb, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nymadiso/bit-of-past/borg/onehisto.htm

(Accessed November 9, 2010).

Cayuga Nation. People of the Great Swamp. Seneca Falls, NY: Cayuga Nation of New York. On-line. Available from internet, http://cayuganation-nsn.gov/Culture/Clans, accessed October 25, 2010.

"Cayuga" New England Encyclopediahttp://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/New_World_Encyclopedia:About

European Invasion of Indian North America, 1513–1765. Ian K. Steele.
Americans at War. Ed. John P. Resch. Vol. 1: 1500-1815. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. p55-60.Reference USA, 2005. p55-60.s Sons, 2006. p557-559

Fadden, J. K. (n.d.). The six nations: Oldest living participatory democracy on earth. Retrieved from http://www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/

http://static.newworldencyclopedia.org/1/1e/Red_Jacket_2.jpg
Retrieved 11-14-10

http://www.senecaindians.com/seneca_tribal.htm Last modified: November 28, 2001

Iroquois League. Leonard J. Sadosky. Encyclopedia of the American Revolution: Library of Military History. Ed. Harold E. Selesky. Vol. 1. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2006. p557-559

New World Encyclopedia contributors, "Onondaga (tribe)," New World Encyclopedia, http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/

Onondaga_%28tribe%29?oldid=841756 (accessed November 10, 2010).

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Drawings of the Native Tribal People

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

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Red Jacket of the Seneca Tribe

The Oneida Tribe text

Oneida Woman

Cayuga Tribe Longhouse

The Cayuga Tribe

Blog Archive

Onondaga Tribe text

Onondaga Tribe Picture

The Five Nations in 1650

Conclusion text

Iroquois Tribe in 1914

References