4.2 What Was Iroquois Society Like?

Where Do They Live Today?

Many of the Haudenosaunee still live in the northeastern parts of the United States and Southeastern Canada.  

The Longhouse

The longhouse was not just the Iroquois home, but the center of their society.  As each family grew, so did the size of the longhouse.  Each community could be made up 50 or more homes, with approximately 60 - 80 people living inside each one.  Many of these longhouses were as long as a football field.  

The nations were divided into 9 clans:

• Bear

• Wolf

• Turtle

• Snipe (long slender billed bird)

• Eel

• Heron

• Hawk

• Beaver

• Deer

The Bear clan in one community was related to the Bear clan in another nations' community.

The Role of Iroquois Women

When a couple were married, they moved into the woman's longhouse.  When they had children, they became part of the mother's clan.  One of the duties of the women was to tend the corn, beans and squash.  These hearty vegetables were the main food supplies for the Iroquois, and were known as the "Three Sisters".  (see picture on page 79 of textbook)

The Clan Mother

Each clan had a leader who was known as the Clan Mother.  This position of importance was passed to her female relatives (a sister or a daughter).  

One important task for the clan mother was to select the chief for their own clan.  When selecting the chief, the mother would look for characteristics such as:

• honesty and kind-heartedness

• ability to think clearly

• knowledge of traditional ceremonies

• loyalty to family

• ability to uphold the Great Law

• ability to represent the people fairly

• ability to withstand criticism

The Iroquois Men

Aside from serving as chiefs on the Grand Council, men were responsible for many task within a community:

• organized hunting and fishing parties

• cut trees to make homes and canoes

• organized team sports such as Lacrosse which helped to build skills for everyday life such as: 

  • leadership skills

  • endurance

  • strength

  • speed for hunting and warfare

• prepared for war

After the Confederacy was formed, the fighting amongst the Iroquois stopped.  If there was conflict between the nations and another group of people, it was the women who decided if they would go to war.

1. Cut out yellow oval

2. Fill in each circle and rectangle with appropriate group.

3. Cut out blue circles.

4. Affix them to the top of each grey circle as a flap over it.