HAUDENOSAUNEE 

“People of the Longhouse” 

The Haudenosaunee, sometimes called Iroquois or Six Nations confederacy, are united by the Great Law of Peace (Kaianere'ko:wa). 

Prior to European contact, Haudenosaunee were horticulturists living in stockaded villages of several hundred people, year-round. Social structure was matrilineal, with female members and their husbands living together in a single longhouse and marriage between clan members forbidden. Matrilineal clans were of symbolic and ceremonial importance. Each founding member was represented by an 8-14 person delegation. Clan mothers supervised the chief's operations and appointed his successor upon his death. Haudenosaunee were able to successfully subjugate or disperse neighbouring groups, including the Huron-Wendat, Petun, Neutral and Erie. They maintained French trading and military alliances, and some converted to Catholicism. Rivalry between New France, Dutch and English, at Albany prevented lasting peace.  

In the 17th century, they formed an alliance of mutual non-interference with European colonists. The 1794 Jay Treaty recognized and supported the rights of all Indigenous peoples to freely cross the border for work or habitation. Due to this treaty, Haudenosaunee maintain strong cultural and political communities. Today, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy is a strong and proud nation that adheres to its traditions and customs. They are among the most populous Indigenous peoples in North America.

They host incredible Powwows, which are open to the public. From Joseph Brant to Tom Longboat, influential Haudenosaunee individuals have shaped our history and created the world in which we live. Some, like Jay Silverheels and Pauline Johnson have achieved fame through their craft, while others, such as Deskaheh and Handsome Lake, have given the Haudenosaunee people a voice in the world and a focal point amongst themselves. 

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