The Mohawk Indians (Kanien'kehá:ka)
Leadership and Contributions
- Joseph Brant, or Thayendanegea, was a Mohawk chief, who was famous for bringing together upper New York Indian tribes and leading them in devastating raids against the Patriots during the Revolutionary War.
Education and Culture
- The children were taught by their parents, the boys would hunt with their fathers and the girls would learn how to farm and gather with their mothers.
- The Mohawk people were known for their mask carving, and it's considered such a sacred art from that many outsiders can't view any of them.
- Lacrosse was a popular sport among the Mohawks, and some of them still handcraft lacrosse sticks.
Survival
- The music of the Mohawks consisted mostly of drums and flutes. The drums were filled with water so they sounded different from other tribes.
Housing
- The Mohawks had their own very complex language. For example, "nia:wen" (nee-ah-wen) means "thank you"
- They lived in longhouses that could be up to 100 feet long and hold up to 60 people.
Clothing
Where did they live?
- The Mohawk kids usually didn't wear anything, until they were old enough to be considered adults.
- The Mohawk men normally did not wear shirts, and often just wore a loin-cloth.
- The women of the Mohawk tribe wore a poncho-like tunic and a wraparound skirt with leggings.
- The Mohawk Indians were part of the Iroquois Nation and lived near what is now Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
- Their land also stretched into New York, near the Mohawk River, and also into the mountains of Vermont
- They were known as the "Keeper's of the Eastern Door."
What did the Mohawks eat?
- The Mohawks were farmers of corn, beans, and squash, they also harvested wild berries and herbs.
- While the women planted, the men hunted for deer and elk in the area, and also fished in the rivers.