...Iroquois Tina Mack Ashford University ANT234 Nadia Khrais May 12, 2014 Iroquois When we think of Indians we think of tepees, bow and arrows, and free roaming hunters. Iroquois were different they lived in longhouses and farmed. They were different in other ways as will. This paper will try to describe the way the Iroquois lived and suffered. The Iroquois lived in longhouses that were made of young saplings lashed together with strips of bark. The frame work was then covered with large sheets of bark, probable from the young sapling used for the frame work. The longhouse was usually twenty feet wide, twenty feet high, and ranged from sixty to two hundred twenty feet long. “The length of a longhouse was determined by the size of the extended family for which it would serve as a home. The interior of the longhouse was divided into a series of compartments or apartments about 20 feet long. Each compartment was the home of two families. Each family shared a fire for heating, cooking, and light, with the family that lived across the central aisle or corridor. This aisle ran the length of the longhouse from end to end, door to door. A longhouse, 220 feet long, could be the home of 18 families, or about 90 people; a longhouse of 60 feet might serve as the home of four families or 20 people. The longest longhouse known from archeological excavations was 400 feet long and was probably the home of about 36 families, or 180 people.” (Alliance,website viewed...
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...The culture that I have chosen is the Iroquois because they are interesting and complicated kinship. In the Iroquois kinship system, a person’s mother and the mother’s sisters are called “mother,” and the father and his brothers are called “father”. Their kinship system separates their people by relation rather than generation, so instead of the children having aunts and uncles, the children would have mothers and fathers in addition to their own biological mother and father. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren would call their aunts and uncles mother or father instead of the titles that we Americans are given today. After reading on the Iroquois I found that the female is the dominate sex within the group, since women were the main producers of food and mutual owners of the land. Iroquois lineage is matrilineal which means as family’s kinship are traced through female decent. The matrilineal kinship is not as common as a patrilineal descendant group, but it is more common when it comes to horticultural groups (Haviland, 2002). In horticultural groups females are the primary gatherers of food for the group while the men cleared and burned the land and forest to prepare them for farming. The men were also small game hunters and warriors. The Iroquois live in longhouses, in which the husband lives within their wives community. The longhouses provide a compartment for each nuclear family to live. Since the Iroquois is a matrilineal group, the eldest female of...
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...IROQUOIS KINSHIP 1 Iroquois Kinship ANT 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology November 4, 2012 IROQUOIS KINSHIP 2 IROQUOIS KINSHIP The origin of the Iroquois tribe dates back centuries, much before the Europeans settlers first arrived on North American soil. I will discuss the kinship system of the Iroquois tribe, describe three specific examples of how the kinship of the Iroquois culture impacts the way this culture behaves and compare this culture to my own society. Other names for the Iroquois are Haudenosaunee, People of the Longhouse, and the Six Nations. The Iroquois Indians lived in what is now New York State along the St. Lawrence River. “The Iroquois Indians were known as the "Five Nations". The league was formed before European contact. The original five nations are Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, and Seneca. The Tuscarora joined later, after European contact, and became the sixth nation.” (Miller, 2000-2001) The Iroquois originated from Up State New York. Throughout migration they gained control of most of the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. In 1680, “their empire extended west from the north shore of Chesapeake Bay through Kentucky to the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers; then north following the Illinois River to the south end of Lake Michigan; east across all of lower Michigan, southern Ontario and adjacent parts of southwestern Quebec; and finally south through northern New England west...
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...The Mohawk Indians are a group of Native Americans indigenous to what is now New York, the Mohawks Is one of many of the remaining native tribes in the United States. The Mohawks are a farming culture known for their great battle skills and the organization of their political groups. The tribe gained their name which means “man eaters” from tribal enemies and Europeans . The tribe is a part of the original Iroquois Indian league were they shared the same culture and language. The Mohawks are notable for their longhouse dwellings, excellent craftsmanship, tribal music and storytelling (which is still a vital part of tribal life today). The Mohawk Indians are a group of Native Americans indigenous to what is now New York, the Mohawks Is one of many of the remaining native tribes in the United States. The Mohawks are a farming culture known for their great battle skills and the organization of their political groups. The tribe gained their name which means “man eaters” from tribal enemies. The tribe is a part of the original Iroquois Indian league were they shared the same culture and language. The Mohawks are notable for their longhouse dwellings, excellent craftsmanship, tribal music and storytelling (which is still a vital part of tribal life today). Religion The Mohawk people had their own religion were they worshiped the creator and the belief that all living things had a spirit which they honored and protected , the Mohawk people had ceremonial...
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...Handsome Lake, a member of the neighboring Seneca nation, received a series of visions that he called the “Good Message.” Handsome Lake had encountered Quakers in 1798 when his brother granted them residence because, unlike other Europeans, the Quakers never coveted Iroquois lands. The Good Message and Handsome Lake’s subsequent evangelical career included elements of both Quaker Christianity, such as silent prayer meetings, and traditional shamanism, such as prophetic mysticism. What work did the men do? The Women do? The children do? Mohawk men were in charge of hunting, trading, and war. Mohawk women were in charge of farming, property, and family. These different roles were reflected in Mohawk government. Mohawk clans were always ruled by women, who made all the land and resource decisions for each clan. But Mohawk chiefs, who made military decisions and trade agreements, were always men. Only men represented the Mohawks at the Iroquois Great Council, but only women voted to determine who the Mohawk representatives would be. Both genders took part in storytelling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine What was their music like? The two most important Mohawk instruments are drums and flutes. Iroquois drums were often filled with water to give them a distinctive sound different from the drums of other tribes. Most Mohawk music is very rhythmic and consists mostly of drumming and lively singing. Flutes were used to woo women in the Mohawk tribe. A young Mohawk man...
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...initiated when the ancestors of Native Americans made their way across a bridge that was once from the Bering Sea and connected Asia to North America. Native Americans believe that their ancestors originated in America and oral accounts of their foundation have been passed down from generation to generation. The Native Americans were very useful with using natural resources and adjusted well to the climate changes of where they lived. They for example, used wood that was collecting in the forest to build houses, boats, and tools. They utilized all of their natural resources including animal hide, bone as well as many other resources to sustain their way of life. Their diet depended on primarily on hunting and was supplemented with farming. When the European explorers began to reach their destination of the land the Native Americans have settled on, they were faced with new challenges. These challenges had some Native Americans coexisting with Europeans and trading and adapting to the new technologies the Europeans had to offer. This was a difficult concept for both the settlers & the Natives to comprehend; yet initially there was a peaceful coexistence as they learned from each other. The settlers picked up on many of the aspects of native life & culture. Many of these aspects would eventually work their way into the modern American way of life. In the Native Americans history there was substantial evidence to make them Americans but their...
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...When the first Europeans came to the North American continent. they encountered the completely new cultures of the Native American peoples of North America. Native Americans, who had highly developed cultures in many respects. must have been as curious about the strange European manners and customs as the Europeans were curious about them. As always happens when two or more cultures come into contact. there was a cultural exchange. Native Americans adopted" some of the Europeans' ways. and the Europeans adopted some of their ways. As a result. Native Americans have made many valuable contributions to American culture. particularly in the areas of language. art, food. and government. Native Americans left a permanent imprint on the English language. The early English speaking settlers borrowed from several different Native American languages words for the new places and new objects that they had found in this new land. All across the country. one can find cities. towns. rivers. and states ,with Native American names. For example. the states of Delaware. Iowa. Illinois. And Alabama are named after Native American tribes as are the cities of Chicago. Miami. and Spokane. In addition to place names. English adopted from various Native American languages the words for animals and plants that were to be found only in the Americas and no place else. Chipmunk. moose. raccoon. skunk. tobacco. and potato are just a few examples. Although the vocabulary of English is the area that...
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...(1) The Iroquois Confederacy was formed by the Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca, Mohawk, and Cayuga tribes between 1570-1600. According to Iroquois legends, Hiawatha, the Mohawk chief, along with Deganawida, a Huron, convinced the chiefs of other tribes to make peace. The only way to keep peace between the different nations was to make them become one nation and give them similar goals. Those goals included improving trade relations, capturing land, become more resilient to invasions from other nations and tribes, and share their agricultural advances with each other. As far as being successful at achieving those goals, they were able to achieve them all. For example, they improved their trade relations when they became heavily involved with trade...
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...They suffered a great deal. This was due to the Native Tribes allying themselves with the French forces. The native americans made this choice because they wanted to protect their land and saw that the French were more interested in their fur trade, whereas the British were more interested in chopping down trees and farming. The Iroquois Confederacy allied themselves with the British, unlike the other tribes, but still did not come out of the situation much better than the others. The Iroquois contested fifty years after the war that the Ohio river territory belonged to the English (http://www.let.rug.nl/,...
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...Compact, William |Overseen by proprietor, Lord |Virginia Company of London ( Royal|Climate and Geography ( big | | |Land was customarily common, |Bradford |Baltimore, autocratic ( House of |colony ruled by governor chosen by|influences | | |enslavement happened but not in | |Burgesses |the king |Trade routes | | |severity | | | |Kingdoms | | |Iroquois Confederacy: strategy to | | | | | | |protect from attack. | | | | | | |Cross regional alliances | | | | | | |Haudenosaunee Confederacy ( | | | |...
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...My Eyes are Native American Do you see me when you look at me or do you see my grandfather’s nose, my grandmother’s ears, my great-uncle’s hair, or my father’s eyes? I am a mother, a daughter, a singer, a comedian, and the greatest secret keeper. A race is people competing for the first place prize at the finish line. Life does not have a finish line and the participants do not have to be identical. That would be extremely boring. When you look at me I want you to see my character and integrity and not the genetics that formed my shell. Take a step back in time; take a leap to 10,000 to 30,000 years ago. The world was bitter cold and experiencing the Ice Age. At some point in time during this era the Bering Land Bridge emerged (Gascoigne, 2001). This was an undersea ridge that connected Siberia with Alaska. Vegetation began to grow along this ridge and attracted many types of animals. The animals started migrating south along the ridge to eat and find more food. Hunter-gatherers, in turn, tracked and followed these animals in pursuit of food as well. This is the point where the American Indian’s entry into America started. The Native Americans continued to migrate further south into South America and gradually to the eastern side of the United States. They were semi-nomadic and were continually on the move in search of better hunting and ability to grow vegetation. The earliest documented proof of any civilized habitation was found to have developed in the coastal...
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...Elba Gibson Professor Cavender RWS 280-14 February 24, 2015 Word Count 916 Project 1: Argument and Audience Analysis With the advancements in modern medicine, Americans are living longer lives than ever before. But does living a longer life mean you’re living a healthier life? The answer might not surprise some, but will shock most. Unfortunately we are living in a time where we are witnessing the most cases of chronic health illnesses, such as heart disease and obesity. Author and Chef Dan Barber raises some of the issues concerning America’s food production in his book “The Third Plate.” The issues with America’s food system are not only affecting our health, but are also interfering with nature in such a negative way, that the worsening of our environment is becoming more apparent each day. Barber is not the only advocate raising awareness about the troubles with modern food production. Michael Pollan, author of “The Food Movement, Rising” and documentaries such as “King Corn” also shed light on the issues surrounding Americans’ health as well as the deterioration of our environment. The solution to this unhealthy epidemic does not lie in a miracle pill, nor in an Ivy League-trained physician. It lies in our food production, and the best place to start is at the source; at the farm. And who better to advocate for this change than farmers and chefs? Farmers and chefs should influence a better food system by promoting good food through their harvests and prepared meals...
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...The History of the American Bottom Two of the nations largest rivers meet in the American Bottom. The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers served as channels of change to the area, bringing outside influences of many different peoples to an Indian-inhabited land. Like the constant flow of the rivers, there was a constant change in the American Bottom. The progress eventually developed the area into a center of economic activity and gateway to the west, but also excluded native and long-time residents. The Illinois Indians long dominated the American Bottom. They were a unique and special tribe, who were complex politically, religiously, and socially. They were also an independent people until French colonizers came to settle in the area. The French Creoles became the dominant population in the region, effecting trade and implementing French Creole culture in the region. The French would not be the last group trying to develop and profit from the American Bottom. When the United States gained control of the territory, it changed even further and eventually Americanized into an U.S. State. The importance of the region increased as the U.S. continued to grow westward. The American Bottoms location between the two great rivers made it the ideal location for a center of economic growth. Prior to the contact period, or the time when the Illinois first came into contact with Europeans, the Illinois were a great and influential tribe. They were a very interesting tribe who had a culture...
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...The History of the American Bottom Two of the nations largest rivers meet in the American Bottom. The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers served as channels of change to the area, bringing outside influences of many different peoples to an Indian-inhabited land. Like the constant flow of the rivers, there was a constant change in the American Bottom. The progress eventually developed the area into a center of economic activity and gateway to the west, but also excluded native and long-time residents. The Illinois Indians long dominated the American Bottom. They were a unique and special tribe, who were complex politically, religiously, and socially. They were also an independent people until French colonizers came to settle in the area. The French Creoles became the dominant population in the region, effecting trade and implementing French Creole culture in the region. The French would not be the last group trying to develop and profit from the American Bottom. When the United States gained control of the territory, it changed even further and eventually Americanized into an U.S. State. The importance of the region increased as the U.S. continued to grow westward. The American Bottoms location between the two great rivers made it the ideal location for a center of economic growth. Prior to the contact period, or the time when the Illinois first came into contact with Europeans, the Illinois were a great and influential tribe. They were a very interesting tribe who had a culture...
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...Introduction What we do about ecology [that is, what we do about environmental problems] depends on our ideas of the man-nature relationship. More science and more technology are not going to get us out of the present crisis until we find a new religion or rethink and old one. --Lynn White Jr. When it comes to modern civilization, few topics could be as relevant as the one we face in climate change and how our relationship with the earth has brought this state of affairs to be. Mr. White, a professor of medieval history and ecology, hits on a critical point (Vetlesen). Perhaps now is the time to investigate older beliefs and how they might allow us to adapt to our current situation, and perhaps improve it. The term “Native Americans” covers a wide range of individuals, tribes, ethnic groups, and geography. Despite these differences, many Native Americans share a similar belief regarding the treatment of the land and all that lived on it: that the land is sacred and should be respected and treated in a sustainable manner. It is this viewpoint that will be the focus of this paper: demonstrating the effect of European settlers on the United States’ ecology, some of the sustainable practices of Native Americans, and how this may have influenced modern society to practice sustainability. Body According to the dictionary, the term ecology refers to a branch of biological science involving the “relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other...
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