Activities & Customs
Which sports did the Iroquois play?
archery, running, lacrosse
Why was nature so respected by the Iroquois?
They believe that everything in nature has a spirit. So when they killed an animal, they thanked it and treated it with great respect.
What would the Iroquois use to travel in summer?
walk/run, elm canoe (heavy & slow)/birch canoe (light & fast).
True or False: In 1500, lacrosse was a game for everyone, just like it is now!
FALSE! It was a game for warriors! It was also one of the ways the Iroquois would manage conflicts between tribes.
Did the Iroquois believe that they could talk to spirits?
YES! They would host rituals to communicate with animal spirits. They would also offer things like tobacco to the spirit animals for a good hunt.
How did they travel in winter?
Snowshoes (to walk without sinking), Toboggans (slide easily on snow & to carry objects).
What games did children play?
dice (games of chance) and they made toys like dolls out of corn husks. They also played pretend! They liked to act out what the adults did!
Who were the healers and what did they do?
men & women who would cure diseases with plants, interpret dreams and communicate with spirits.
The Iroquois liked to trade (like we do with Pokemon cards!). Tell me about it...
It would happen during the summer.
They would meet with tribes from different areas to trade products they didn't have in their region.
True of False:Celebrations were important to the Iroquois.
TRUE! They loved celebrating a good harvest, a victory or a wedding! They had most celebrations in the winter, but they could take place all year round! Sometimes they would invite neighbours from other villages!
What are dream catchers use for?
What did they Iroquois and Algonquians trade with each other?
Algonquians who were nomadic (traveled a lot) brought meat, shells, animal fur and canoes.
How did the Iroquois pass on their stories & traditions?
They had an ORAL tradition for storytelling. They didn't write things down.
True or False: Dreams were not important to the Iroquois.
FALSE! They believed that dreams had meaning and helped to see into the future.
What is a WAMPUM?
Beads made out of shells. They could be found on belts or necklaces!