IroquoisIroquoisThe Native Americans of The Native Americans of the Northeast Woodlandsthe Northeast Woodlands

IntroductionIntroduction

The Iroquois Native Americans lived in the The Iroquois Native Americans lived in the Northeast Woodlands with lakes, but not on Northeast Woodlands with lakes, but not on the coast. There original territory was what the coast. There original territory was what we now call New York state.we now call New York state.

The word Iroquois is pronounced “ eer-uh-The word Iroquois is pronounced “ eer-uh-kwoy” in English. The word means “ dead kwoy” in English. The word means “ dead snakes” in Algonquian. Today the Iroquois snakes” in Algonquian. Today the Iroquois call themselves the Haudenosaunee or Six call themselves the Haudenosaunee or Six Nations.Nations.

Stories and LegendsStories and LegendsBy Madeline WesselsBy Madeline Wessels

The Iroquois told many stories and legends to eachother. The Iroquois told many stories and legends to eachother. Storytelling was very important to the Iroquois culture. Here is an Storytelling was very important to the Iroquois culture. Here is an example of one that tries to explain how the world was made.example of one that tries to explain how the world was made.

Long ago, the world was covered by water. Far above the world Long ago, the world was covered by water. Far above the world lived the Happy Spirits. In the land of Happy Spirits was a huge lived the Happy Spirits. In the land of Happy Spirits was a huge tree. One day, the Happy Spirits chief pulled up the tree. This left tree. One day, the Happy Spirits chief pulled up the tree. This left a hole where the tree once stood. He saw the world of water a hole where the tree once stood. He saw the world of water below. The chief sent his daughter in to that world. He carefully below. The chief sent his daughter in to that world. He carefully dropped her in to the hole. The water animals saw her floating dropped her in to the hole. The water animals saw her floating down. They called her Sky Woman. They created the earth on a down. They called her Sky Woman. They created the earth on a turtle’s back. Birds helped her land. After a time, Sky Woman turtle’s back. Birds helped her land. After a time, Sky Woman gave birth to twins. She died soon after. Good Twin hung his gave birth to twins. She died soon after. Good Twin hung his mother’s head in the sky. It became the sun. He also made good mother’s head in the sky. It became the sun. He also made good things. Evil Twin made bad things. The two fought to control the things. Evil Twin made bad things. The two fought to control the world.world.

Iroquois Stories and LegendsIroquois Stories and LegendsBy Madeline Wessels

The Iroquois also believed that if they wore corn husk The Iroquois also believed that if they wore corn husk masks or painted their faces they would frighten away the masks or painted their faces they would frighten away the evil spirits. A group of medicine men wore horrifying evil spirits. A group of medicine men wore horrifying masks made out of wood. They were thought to possess masks made out of wood. They were thought to possess special powers when they put on their masks. Those are special powers when they put on their masks. Those are some interesting facts about the Iroquois stories and some interesting facts about the Iroquois stories and legends.legends.

Art Art By Madeline WesselsBy Madeline Wessels

The Iroquois made lots of different types of art. The The Iroquois made lots of different types of art. The Iroquois made pottery like coil pots. They had Iroquois made pottery like coil pots. They had rounded bottoms and a square rim. They made rounded bottoms and a square rim. They made tobacco pipes out of clay too. They also made tobacco pipes out of clay too. They also made jewelry. The Iroquois were known for mask carving. jewelry. The Iroquois were known for mask carving. They considered it a very sacred art. Beadwork and They considered it a very sacred art. Beadwork and porcupine quillwork are more common Iroquois porcupine quillwork are more common Iroquois crafts. The Iroquois also made wampum out of white crafts. The Iroquois also made wampum out of white and purple shell beads. Wampum was traded as a and purple shell beads. Wampum was traded as a kind of money. They were more culturally important kind of money. They were more culturally important as an art material. The wampum belts often told a as an art material. The wampum belts often told a story or represented a person’s family. Those are story or represented a person’s family. Those are some examples of the art the Iroquois made.some examples of the art the Iroquois made.

MusicMusicBy Madeline WesselsBy Madeline Wessels

The Iroquois played lots of music. The two most The Iroquois played lots of music. The two most important Iroquois instruments are drums and flutes. important Iroquois instruments are drums and flutes. Iroquois drums were sometimes filled with water to Iroquois drums were sometimes filled with water to give them a distinctive sound different than the sound give them a distinctive sound different than the sound from the other tribe’s drums. Most Iroquois music from the other tribe’s drums. Most Iroquois music was rhythmic and is made up of drumming and lively was rhythmic and is made up of drumming and lively singing. Flutes were used to impress women of the singing. Flutes were used to impress women of the Iroquois tribe. An Iroquois man would play beautiful Iroquois tribe. An Iroquois man would play beautiful flute music outside his girlfriend’s longhouse to show flute music outside his girlfriend’s longhouse to show he was thinking about her. Those are instruments and he was thinking about her. Those are instruments and music that the Iroquois tribe made.music that the Iroquois tribe made.

DrumDrum

FamiliesFamilies The Iroquois had many different families. Here are some of them.The Iroquois had many different families. Here are some of them. HuronHuron CreeCree MohawkMohawk OneidaOneida HaudenosauneeHaudenosaunee OnondagaOnondaga AlgonquiansAlgonquians CayugaCayuga OjibwaOjibwa SenecaSeneca Chippewa Chippewa The woman of the tribe had an important role. They had a lot of power. They could choose the chief of clans The woman of the tribe had an important role. They had a lot of power. They could choose the chief of clans

and they could remove them. They voted to decide who was in the Great Council. They could not vote for and they could remove them. They voted to decide who was in the Great Council. They could not vote for themselves. After that, they could start and stop wars. Then, they planted the crops. In conclusion, the themselves. After that, they could start and stop wars. Then, they planted the crops. In conclusion, the women were very powerful.women were very powerful.

The men of the tribe did a lot.The men of the tribe did a lot.First, they fought in wars. Second, they hunted for food for the tribe. Last, they protected there families from First, they fought in wars. Second, they hunted for food for the tribe. Last, they protected there families from

enemies. enemies. The children of the tribe didn’t do much. The children were expected to go to council meetings. They also The children of the tribe didn’t do much. The children were expected to go to council meetings. They also

played with small bows and dolls.played with small bows and dolls.

ToolsTools Hammer The hammer was used to hammer things and nail things downHammer The hammer was used to hammer things and nail things down Fan The fan was used to blow cool air at tribe members so the weren’t hotFan The fan was used to blow cool air at tribe members so the weren’t hot Mallet A mallet was used as the same purpose as a hammer except it’s head was a cylinderMallet A mallet was used as the same purpose as a hammer except it’s head was a cylinder Basket A basket was used to collect and store foodBasket A basket was used to collect and store food Jar A jar was used as a tool to store foodJar A jar was used as a tool to store food Spearhead A spearhead was something sharp the Iroquois put on their spearsSpearhead A spearhead was something sharp the Iroquois put on their spears

Spears Spears were something the Iroquois used to defend themselves and kill their foodSpears Spears were something the Iroquois used to defend themselves and kill their food Pot A pot is something the Iroquois cooked inPot A pot is something the Iroquois cooked in Hoe A hoe was something to plant cropsHoe A hoe was something to plant crops Paddles Paddles were used to paddle a boatPaddles Paddles were used to paddle a boat

ShovelA shovel was used to dig up dirtShovelA shovel was used to dig up dirt Cradelboard A cradelboard was used to carry babiesCradelboard A cradelboard was used to carry babies Powderhorn A powderhorn was used to carry the Iroquois gunpowderPowderhorn A powderhorn was used to carry the Iroquois gunpowder Saddle A saddle was used to ride a horseSaddle A saddle was used to ride a horse Loom A loom was used to weave blanketsLoom A loom was used to weave blankets Knife A knife was used to cut something Knife A knife was used to cut something

TransportationTransportation

The Iroquois transportation is interesting. One The Iroquois transportation is interesting. One of there transportation is a canoe. A canoe is of there transportation is a canoe. A canoe is like a boat. They use it to cross lakes. They like a boat. They use it to cross lakes. They also used snowshoes. It made it easy to walk in also used snowshoes. It made it easy to walk in the snow. Last but not least, the Iroquois used the snow. Last but not least, the Iroquois used moccasins. That is what they used the most. moccasins. That is what they used the most. Like when girl goes to gather berries they put Like when girl goes to gather berries they put on there moccasins. That is the Iroquois on there moccasins. That is the Iroquois transportation.transportation.

CanoeCanoe

CommunicationCommunication

The Iroquois communication is interesting. The Iroquois communication is interesting. One way they used communication is there One way they used communication is there language/Algonquian. Another language/Algonquian. Another communication that they used is pictures. communication that they used is pictures. What kind of pictures? How long did they What kind of pictures? How long did they take? I wonder what kind of pictures they take? I wonder what kind of pictures they drew. That is Iroquois communication.drew. That is Iroquois communication.

Iroquois FoodIroquois Food

Some of the foods the Iroquois eat are fish, elk, deer, Some of the foods the Iroquois eat are fish, elk, deer, moose, beavers, geese, ducks, pheasants, apples, moose, beavers, geese, ducks, pheasants, apples, corn, beans, squash, rabbit , pumpkin, watermelon, corn, beans, squash, rabbit , pumpkin, watermelon, bird, and bird, and

sunflowers.sunflowers.

Iroquois FoodIroquois Food

The Three Sisters: corn, The Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squashbeans, and squash

Iroquois Special ActivitiesIroquois Special Activities

FestivalsFestivals New Year’sNew Year’s Maple Sap FlowsMaple Sap Flows Planting and Picking Planting and Picking

CropsCrops WeddingsWeddings

Play LacrossePlay Lacrosse

Iroquois ClothingIroquois ClothingBy Emily WarthenBy Emily Warthen

The Iroquois Native Americans made a lot of their The Iroquois Native Americans made a lot of their clothing from deerskin. Iroquois women wore skirts, clothing from deerskin. Iroquois women wore skirts, vests, leggings, and moccasins. Men wore mostly vests, leggings, and moccasins. Men wore mostly breech clothes and moccasins. The moccasins were breech clothes and moccasins. The moccasins were made of either leather or corn husks. They also wore made of either leather or corn husks. They also wore snowshoes in the Winter to make hunting easier. The snowshoes in the Winter to make hunting easier. The Native Americans decorated their clothing with Native Americans decorated their clothing with porcupine quills, shells, and dyed hair. The Iroquois porcupine quills, shells, and dyed hair. The Iroquois people also liked jewelry, makeup, and tattoos on people also liked jewelry, makeup, and tattoos on most of their tribes bodies. The woman of the tribe most of their tribes bodies. The woman of the tribe made necklaces out of shell beads and animal teeth. made necklaces out of shell beads and animal teeth.

Iroquois HousesIroquois HousesBy Emily Warthen By Emily Warthen

The Iroquois Native Americans lived in homes The Iroquois Native Americans lived in homes called longhouses. They used 4 elm posts that called longhouses. They used 4 elm posts that made the corners. Then, they cut down young made the corners. Then, they cut down young trees and tied it into place. It formed the side trees and tied it into place. It formed the side and roof frame. Next, they covered the frame and roof frame. Next, they covered the frame with elm bark and tied it into place with rope. with elm bark and tied it into place with rope. The bark was then flattened with rocks. After The bark was then flattened with rocks. After the Iroquois built the longhouse, they cut a the Iroquois built the longhouse, they cut a hole in the roof so smoke from a fire could get hole in the roof so smoke from a fire could get out. This formed a longhouse.out. This formed a longhouse.

Iroquois LonghousesIroquois LonghousesBy Emily WarthenBy Emily Warthen