Woodland Indians: Iroquois and Algonquin
Woodland Indian tribes extended from New England and Maryland to the Great Lakes Area. Woodland Indian consisted of two main tribes, Iroquois and Algonquin. They lived in forests near lakes or streams, this is why they were called Eastern Woodland Indians. The region covered the East Coast what is today the United States.
THE IROQUOIS
Most historians believed that the Iroquois was formed at around the time of 1142 (http://www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/DatingIC.html). They lived in the area that is now known as the East Coast of the USA, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and also including parts of Southern Canada.
Culture
("Mohawk Iroquois Longhouse - Construction." Mohawk Iroquois Longhouse - Construction. Web. 20 May 2014.)
(Longhouse)
In the Iroquois culture nobody had a higher status than another person. The leaders were respected, though they were thought of as equal as a lower man. Men and women were equal as well, though they had different occupations. The women were in charge of property and agricultural property like houses. Children and women were also in charge of gathering while men hunted and fished. The Iroquois lived in long houses which housed more than one family. If a married couple wanted a divorce, in the Iroquois culture, the man would be asked to leave the house along with all of his belongings. There were no police in their culture because hardly any of the Iroquois committed any crimes. The only two crimes that a person could commit would be theft and murder, and this was punishable by death. Although, the Iroquois did overlook murder if the person was drunk because they believed that rum held a stronger power than man. The Iroquois did not think of themselves as strong because of the victories that they had but because of their allies.
FoodThe Food that the Iroquois usually ate were thing that they could gather or hunt in their environment. Women usually gathered wild roots, berries and greens and in the summer they gathered nuts for the whole year. Their main food was corn, squash and beans. Men hunted wild turkey, muskrat and beaver and fish that they most like to eat was salmon, bars, trout, whitefish and perch. Maple syrup and herbs were used as medicine.
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(hunting for food)
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"John Harris Project." John Harris Project. Web. 23 May 2014.
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The Iroquois also had festivals. Most of their festivals were for agriculture like the harvest festival for Thanksgiving. They celebrated being blessed by the lands and all the things the land gave them. Their six major ceremonies every year were the Maple, Planting, Strawberry, Green Corn, Harvest, Mid-Winter and New Year's festival. These were all to do with farming, curing, illness and Thanks Giving. |
Wampum BeltsThe Wampum belts were a major thing in all the Iroquois's culture. Because the Iroquois had no writing system they communicated their history and traditions orally. The Wampum belts helped keeping their memories intact so that they could retell their history. The shell beads, the Wampum beads, helped for memory and each bead shows a significant event. The Wampum belts were also almost the same as money. Popular Iroquois Wampum belts are the Hiawatha Wampum, Two Row Wampum and the Guswhenta.
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(1)"Wampum - Early American Currency." Historymartinezs Blog. Web. 23 May 2014.(2)"Cocopah Beads and Books." : Iroquois Wampum Beads and Belts in the Eastern United States. Web. 23 May 2014.(3)"The Two Row Wampum Belt: An Akwesasne Tradition." The Two Row Wampum Belt: An Akwesasne Tradition. Web. 23 May 2014.
(1)Hiawatha Wampum (2)Wampum beads (3)Two Row Wampum
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Clothing
The Iroquois made their clothing from soft deerskin. Both men and woman wore leggings, shirts, and moccasins. Women wore a skirt or a dress that covered most of their leggings. The women wore their hair long. Warriors wore their hair in a hairstyle called the mohawk. The mohawk is a a wide stripe of hair left down the middle of the head. The men also removed all body hair by scraping it off.
In winter men added a smock that went down to their knees for warmth. Both men and women decorated their bodies with tattoos and they decorated their clothes with dyed porcupine quills.
In winter men added a smock that went down to their knees for warmth. Both men and women decorated their bodies with tattoos and they decorated their clothes with dyed porcupine quills.
("Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest." Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 23 May 2014.) "Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Indian Fact Sheet." Facts for Kids: Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Indians. Web. 23 May 2014.
Iroquois Religion
The Iroquois religion was centered around the 'Great Spirit' who was believed to be their creator. They believed that they could indirectly communicate to the Great Spirit by burning tobacco which could carry prayers to the lesser spirits of good. Dreams were also considered important. The Iroquois believed that when they died they would go to the afterlife and join the Great Spirit. Though now, many of Iroquois people have converted to Christianity.
The Iroquois Confederacy
("IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY." IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY. Web. 23 May 2014.)
First there was the five nations which consisted of five tribes who all lived near each other. These five tribes were called the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondages, Cayuges and the Senecas. The Tuscora tribe then joined the five nations later, at around 1720, making it the six nations. They were also known as the Haudenosaunee, 'the six separate Indian nations' (although in the treaties they were called the six nations). They formed this nation to create security against other tribes. Onondaga was the council overall for the six nations. They all spoke the same language though each tribe had a different dialect.
Important Iroquois figures
Iroquois had many important figures. When the Iroquois conquered the Pennsylvanian tribes, none of the Iroquois actually lived there, so a man named Shikellamy was their ambassador. He governed the Ausquenhannock, also known as Swatana. He was Oneida chief and oversaw for the Iroquois confederacy. He was also the supervisor for the six nations. The Iroquois had two prophets called Ayonwehtah and Detanawidah. Ayonwentah was also known as Hiawatha because of the long fellow poem. Detanawidah was also known as the great peace maker. Ayonwentah, Hiawatha, was the co-founder of the Iroquois confederacy. Tadadaho was the Iroquois spiritual leader. He was a sachem of the Onondaga nation.
Interaction With Other Cultures
The Iroquois were a very closed tribe. They mostly fought with the other eastern tribes, especially there neighbors the Algonquins. Although, they were also engaged in trade with their neighbors. Iroquois then established alliances with the Europeans when they discovered America. They sided with the Dutch, and later the English, to gain firearms to fight against other tribes. In 1640 the Five Nations started conquering neighboring tribes.
Influence On America
The Iroquois and the Iroquois system influenced the development of the articles of confederation or United States constitution. The idea of the government may have been influenced by them as well. The oral history also played a role on the Iroquois influence. The people say it’s a myth that the Iroquois influenced America. They also say that they had influence on European settlers in America. Something they also influenced was the Bill of rights, which is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. The Iroquois festival of Thanksgiving also had a huge influence on the world, and people now celebrate that tradition every year.
"Algonquin and Other Indigenous People Take Stand against Obama."SodaHead. Web. 23 May 2014.
THE ALGONQUINS
The Omàmiwinini, or more commonly known as the Algonquins, are a tribe who migrated from the Atlantic coast. They are the original natives of the southern Quebec and Eastern Ontario region. They are native North Americans and native Canadians. Today they live in nine communities in Quebec and one community in Ontario.
("Territorial Evolution of Canada." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 May 2014. Web. 25 May 2014.)
Culture
The Algonquins call themselves the Omàmiwinini though they are now more commonly known as the Algonquins. Algonquin means 'they are our relatives/allies'. The Algonquins lived in cone-shaped houses in the area of Southern Quebec and Eastern Ontario. Though, they also lived in small round building called Wigwams and some of them lived in Longhouses like the Iroquois. It depended on where the Algonquins lived. Their language was called Anicināpemowin or Omàmiwininimowin. In the past, the council members chose the tribe's next chief, which was often the last chief's son, nephew or son-in-law. Although, now a woman can be the chief too.
The Algonquin women gathered plants to eat and did most of the child care and cooking. Men were hunters and sometimes went to war to protect their families. Both genders took part in storytelling, artwork and music and traditional medicine.
ClothesThe Algonquin women wore long dresses with removable sleeves, moccasins and later cloth blouses and jackets with fancy beadwork. The men wore breechcloths and leggings along with moccasins.
TransportThe Algonquins used birchbark canoes as transport across water and they used doges as pack animals. In the winter they used sleds and snowshoes to help them travel more easily.
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"Algonquins in the 1700s Ad." Algonquins In The 1700s Ad. Web. 23 May 2014.
Algonquin clothing
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Important Algonquin Figure- Pocahontas
"Historic Pocahontas Pictures - The Real Pocahontas, by David Morenus."Historic Pocahontas Pictures - The Real Pocahontas, by David Morenus. Web. 23 May 2014. "Pocahontas." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 May 2014. Web. 20 May 2014.
(Pocahontas saving John Smith from execution by her father)
Pocahontas was a famous Algonquin Indian. Born in 1915, she was the daughter of the chief Powhatan. She was thought to be friends with an Englishman called John Smith and when he was captured by an Indian raid, she saved him from execution by putting her head on his. Later in her life she was captured during Anglo- Indian hostilities in 1613 and they held her for ransom. Though, she turned Christian and changed her name to Rebecca and when she had the chance to go back to her people, she stayed in England. Pocahontas (Rebecca) then married a tobacco planter called John Rolfe. She became famous in England for becoming the first civilized savage. She died on 1617 at the age of 21 or 22 by an unknown cause. She was buried at St George Church.
Interaction With Other Cultures
Algonquin were the first meet the Europeans when Samuel de Champlain saw a tribe led by Kiticisipirini, who was the chief in Eastern Quebec. In the summer of 1603 the Algonquins allied with the French, because of Champlain, so that they could acquire firearms. The Algonquins also became trading partners with the French. Though, the alliance led to conflict against the French.
Historically the Algonquins and the Iroquois were enemies. The Iroquois sided with the Dutch and the English and the Iroquois Confederacy drove the Algonquins from their land. Later, the Iroquois and the English defeated the French and the Algonquins. In 1642, the Iroquois made a surprise winter raid, attacking the Algonquins while many of their worriers were absent. There were several casualties.
Historically the Algonquins and the Iroquois were enemies. The Iroquois sided with the Dutch and the English and the Iroquois Confederacy drove the Algonquins from their land. Later, the Iroquois and the English defeated the French and the Algonquins. In 1642, the Iroquois made a surprise winter raid, attacking the Algonquins while many of their worriers were absent. There were several casualties.
Influence on America
The trading route and the Algonquin's language spreading was a large influence on America. In addition, some medical products were influenced on America, like many plants that are used now days, to treat people. A lot of symbols that the Algonquins had can be seen today on flags or sport team logos as well.
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