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Settings/location/Physical Geography
Since 1200
Quebec, Ontario, new York, St. Lawrence river
Fertile land, lakes, rivers, flat plains, rolling hills, dry
Climate
Harsh winters/summers
Blizzards, storms
Generally moist weather because of great lakes
Winter can go to -30c w/ 80cm snow
Can recive 100cm of rain each year, high humidity in
summer
Language
Used to be 5 different nations/language
6th nation/language join at early 1700s
Mohawk-official language
The languages, Seneca & Oneida are very
endangered(mostly gone)
The languages, Cayuga & Onondaga are fading(still
some around, but not much)
The language, Tuscarora(the 6th one) is very
endangered(mostly gone)
Daily Life
Hunt
Fish
Farm
Clothing
Transportation
trade/economy
Hunting
Hunting was done by men
Bows and arrows and spears
Black bear, elk, wolves, deer's, rabbits
Trap wild turkeys, ducks, etc
Also hunted turtles for meat/ shell
The Iroquois didnt waste any parts of animal(ate
Fishing
At the end of winter, spring(fishing season)
Done by men
Used huge nets to catch fish
If the tribe was desperate for food, men went out at
Farming
The Iroquois mainly relied on farming for food.
The people called corn, squash, beans the three
sisters
Men clear field while women plant seeds
One of the first to tap Maple trees for Maple syrup
Loved Maple sugar in foods. E.g. heated nuts rolled
in maple sugar
Gathering
Done by women and children
Wild nuts, fruits, veggies, mushrooms,
eggs(birds/turtles)
Stuff from gathering were eaten when they were
short on meat/ harvest(corn/squash/bean)
Sunflower- sunflower oils-fry food, treat wounds,
body lotion(protect from heat/cold)
Storing
Iroquois were really good at storing food
Meat/fish smoked at home(has fire at the center, has
chimneys)
Veggies/beans dried, kept in dark containers w/thick
lids
Dried food in clay pots buried in bark lined(to keep
away mice) storage pits in/near home
Corn, squash braided and hung from ceiling
Shelter
Primarily lived in Longhouses and huts
The houses had Chimneys and fire at the centre
Clothing
Very unique even among other tribes
Use furs from animals-hides of elk, deer, etc(winter)
Wove plant an tree fiber or no shirt(summer)
Both protection and decorative purposes
Usually decorated with Iroquoian symbols/clan animal sometimes
Transportation
Something simple and quick
Usually prefer land-travel
Snowshoes, sleds(pulled by dogs until Europeans
Trade/Economy
Beaver pelts(valuable) helped a lot to open trade for Iroquois.
Culture
Dance
Music
Beliefs and ceremonies
Burial practices
Dance
Encourage everyone to dance the traditional dances of the Earth Songs. Each song
varies in speed and complexity, but all dances are performed in a counter-clockwise
direction.
There are instruments, but rely mostly on the dancers feet stomping on the ground
in unison. These foot beats are divided in three categories: Stomp, side step shuffle,
Fish
Stomp - the feet shuffle across the floor with the right foot in the lead. The left foot is
brought up to rejoin the right as the dancer moves across the floor, and the feet hit
the floor hard enough to help carry the beat of the music to all dancers.
Side-Step Shuffle - this foot shuffle and stomp is performed only by female dancers.
The women alternate shuffling their right and left feet across the ground.
Fish - The fish dance step involves each foot hitting multiple beats. Instead of
alternating feet, the right foot may stomp two or three times to the music before
switching weight to the left foot.
All dances tell stories related to their title. Rabbit dance legend is one of the most
legendary
Rabbit dance
The story of the rabbit is set in ancient tribal times, telling the tale of a a group of hunters out looking for
game. Just when they thought they could not find any animals anywhere, they found a rabbit larger than
anything they had ever seen. Just as they were about to shoot the rabbit that was surely large enough to feed
the entire village, the leader of the hunters had them lower their weapons and wait to see what would happen
next. The legend maintains that the hunters watched as the large rabbit thumped its foot on the ground.
Other rabbits began to hop toward it, and they too came and thumped their feet in time, completely ignoring
the threat of the hunters. The rabbits formed a big circle and began to dance. The dance was so captivating
that the hunters ran back to their village and told the story to their Clan Mother, who listened carefully as
they reenacted the rhythm for her on water drums. She then proceeded to tell the hunters that the rabbits
knew that the Iroquois depended upon them for food and clothing. They had taught the hunters the dance
that day to show them a way to express gratitude and reverence toward the rabbits for all they continue to
give. To this very day, the Rabbit Dance is done as a sign of thankfulness to the rabbit people for all they have
brought to the lives of the villagers.
Music
Instruments- water drum, horn rattle, hard sticks,
flutes
Flutes-used to woo women. Men would play flute
music outside of the womens longhouse at night to
show her that he was thinking about her.
Most music's are very rhythmic and consists mostly
of drumming and lively singing
is their creator
Many Iroquois are Christians
They believed humans can indirectly communicate with
the great spirit by burning tobacco
Dreams are regarded as important supernatural signs
which express the desire of soul
Six major ceremonies(Maple, Planting, Strawberry, Green
corn, Harvest, Mid winter or New years Festival) during
the year thanking the Gods for their harvests
Believed in afterlife and joining the Great Spirit
Burial Practices
Related closely to their beliefs.
Going back to the sky world to join the Great Spirit
Death is taken by the faceless one
When someone dies-returned home to be cleaned,
Government
Female chief heads every league
Formed leagues to have peace with neighbors, to
Warfare
Weapons(vary by tribe)-hide shields, flint knives,