Clans
How many clans does the Iroquois Confederacy have?
9
Which nation was known as the “Firekeepers” or "Keepers of the Council Fire"?
Onondaga
How were chiefs chosen? What values did they need to have?
The Clan Mother chose men who should have the ability to think, show loyalty and honestly, withstand criticism, and represent their nation well in council meetings.
What is a longhouse?
A longhouse is a large wooden home where a family, all related to the clan mother, lived together.
What is another name for chiefs in the Confederacy?
Hoyaneh
What were the names of the clans represented by the "Land"?
Deer, bear, wolf
Which nations were considered "Younger Brothers"?
Cayuga and Oneida
What was a Clan Mother? How was she chosen?
A Clan Mother was the eldest and most respected woman who leads a clan and helps make important decisions. She protected the welfare of her clan, chose chiefs, and maintained harmony/peace among the clans/nations.
The Clan Mother was passed down in the family to the next woman most suitable for the job.
What does the word Haudenosaunee mean?
"People of the Longhouse" - the name the Iroquois called themselves
Who were the "People of the Flint"? What did the feathers on their headdress look like?
The Mohawk, three feathers pointed upwards
What were the names of the clans that represented the "water"?
Beaver, eel, turtle
What was the 6th nation that joined the Confederacy?
The Tuscarora
What are three examples of the roles of women in Haudenosaunee society?
Raised children, owned property/homes, participated in Women's Council, could be Clan Mother if the position was passed down to them, they were well respected in the Confederacy
What is a Hoyaneh (chief)? What was his job?
A Hoyaneh is a leader who represents the people in Grand Council meetings, chosen by the Clan Mother.
Which nation was located on the West side of the Confederacy? What was their role?
The Seneca - they were the "Keepers of the Western Door." They protected the Confederacy from the west side and kept peace with other groups along their border.
What were the names of the clans that represented the "Sky" or "Air"?
Snipe, heron, hawk
Which two nations were the largest, on each edge of the Confederacy? What were they known as and why did they have that role?
Seneca (Keepers of the Western Door) and Mohawk (Keepers of the Eastern Door). They guarded the rest of the nations because they were on the east and west side, and the largest nations, with the others between them.
What are two things boys learned and two things girls learned as children in the Confederacy?
Boys: Hunting, making darts, playing sports
Girls: Beadwork, making baskets and dolls
Both: Listening to Men's and Women's Councils and learning how they could be an active member of the Confederacy when they got older, play, go to school
What does consensus mean? How is it used in the Confederacy?
Consensus means everyone must come to an agreement before a decision can be made. The nations had to be in agreement (older brothers had to be in consensus and so did the younger brothers)
How could men and women have their voices heard who were NOT Hoyaneh or Clan Mothers?
They could attend Men's and Women's Councils to discuss issues and then advise the Clan Mother
Why was the clan system so important in the Confederacy? Why was it created?
It was created to help keep peace between nations.
People in the same clan in different nations were considered family, which helped prevent conflict.
Which nations were the "Older Brothers" and why did they always need to be in consensus?
The Mohawk and Seneca were the “Older Brothers.”
They needed to be in agreement because they were the two larger, outer nations, and if they disagreed it could lead to conflict that would affect the nations in between them. Reaching consensus helped prevent war and protect the other nations from being caught in the middle of disagreements.
What were three roles of men in the Confederacy?
Men hunted/fished, protected the community, and represented clans in councils (if Hoyaneh), attended Men's Councils (if not Hoyaneh), organized sports
What is a matrilineal system? How did the Iroquois show this?
It means they trace their families/clans through the mother's side of the family. When a baby was born, the baby joined the mother's clan. Members of a clan were all related to the clan mother and traced their ancestry through her.
Which nation was located in the center of the nations? Why was this important?
The Onondaga, because they were the Firekeepers and hosted the council meetings, their central location made it easier for leaders to gather.