Hurons and Iroquois

*The Huron were originally called the Wendat or Wyandot. The Iroquois were originally called the Haudenosaunee.

Iroquois Belief and Culture

The Huron Beliefs and

Culture

What the Huron ate, corn, beans, pumpkins, squash, fish, etc.

When European settlers came by, they tried convince many First Nations people to become Christians. In a result to that, there are quite a handful of Christian Iroquoians.

Other than Christianity, their beliefs and traditions were ancient.

They believed there was a Creator. The Creator made everything, people, nature, skies, seas.

They also believed there is a living spirit in all things.

A few festivals were to give thanks to the Creator and honour ancestors.

While some festivals were to celebrate the ripening and harvest of foods, and give thanks to the Sun and Moon.

Finally the Iroquois valued kindness and sharing. In fact, everyone in the village worked.

What the Iroquois ate, corn, squash, beans, deer, fish and etc.

The Huron believed that there were 3 worlds, the dead and spirit, dreams, and the one they live now. They found deep meanings in sky, land and water. In addition, they believed that everything has a spirit --the most powerful is Wind. Wind controlled seasons and weather while land spirits controlled soil, tree and plants.

They believe dreams hold special meanings, omens of events and their special needs. Shamans holds a very important role in the Huron community and dreams. They interpret the meaning of dreams and give the dreamers the necessities.

The festivals and ceremonies they hold follows the seasons. For example in Autumn, they give thanks to crops and harvest. In Winter they chase away evil spirits that brought illness. In Spring, they celebrate the beginning of a new farming year. Finally in Summer they celebrate ripening of strawberries and and green corn. This is important to the Huron because that's when they know when to plant other crops.

They usually give speeches and prayers, dance and play games.

Clothing

All the clothing the Huron wore were from nature. In the cold weather they wore clothes made from hide and fur from beaver and deer, leggings (also made from hides) and fur cloaks. During the warmer weather, men wore a loin cloth and a strip of hide, while women wore a long skirt made by hides. To decorate their clothing, they added porcupine quills, beads and feathers. They usually had necklaces made by shells, seeds. In special occasions they used body paint.

The Iroquois' clothing was also made from natural items. Such as leather, plant fibers and corn husks. They decorate them with feathers, quills, seashells and seeds. In the cooler weather males wore leather shirts and females wore overdresses. The both wore leggings (from leather) and fur robes.

Corn was very important to both Huron and Iroquois.

Leather leggings both Nations wore

The shoes the Iroquois wore.

They are called Moccasins.

An Iroquois artifact.

The meaning of human effigies (a roughly made model of a particular person, made in order to be damaged or destroyed as a protest or expression of anger),

sometimes found along the rims

of Iroquois pots.

The simple and steady beat of this drum sends positive feelings. The drum sets the foundation for sacred meetings and gatherings. It is also to have the beneficial effects for nature.

Iroquois Confederacy

Wendat Confederacy

The Iroquois Confederacy was also known as Iroquois League. It is made of 5 tribes, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca. It was created to end tribal wars and prosper and live together. Each nation had its own roles. In the confederacy there are Clan Mothers, who are the female leaders and Hoyaneh, who are the male leaders. If the Hoyaneh were to be ill or not able to work, they would be replace by the Clan Mothers.

Conclusion

The Wendat Confederacy was also known as the Huron Confederacy. It is made out of 4 tribes. There were 3 major communities, one in Kansas, one in Oklahoma and one in Quebec. Each nation lives on its own reserve. It is govern by a council of chiefs and each has its own rules, service and rights. It is like a small independent country.

Who were the Huron and Iroquois? *

The Beaver War

As you can see, the Huron and the Iroquois' lifestyle were very similar. One similarity they have is that they both sell beaver fur and pelt. When trading beaver fur with the Europeans became popular, the Huron and Iroquois started competing. Also, they both wanted to expand their territories to obtain more beavers. That was the start of the Beaver War (1640-1701). The Beaver War was considered the most brutal war in North America. During the war, the Huron teamed up with the French and the Iroquois teamed up with the British and Dutch. Sadly, the Huron were wiped out from the war.

Significance & Effects:

• Local tribes were forced out of their homeland.
• New France was conquered by the British. Therefore all trading rights became English and furs were to sent to London.
• The British achieved dominance over the area.

Map of where the Iroquois lived

The situation with the Huron and Iroquois has changed Canada for better or for worst. The big historical event was the Beaver War. Some tribes have been banished and forced out of their lands. We now live under British rules other than French or even the First Nations'.

The Iroquois were a government made up of 5 tribes, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca. They were known as the most powerful and influential tribe. They lived in the area we now call New York and the Great Lakes. The Iroquois spoke 10 main languages.

The Huron were also a confederacy of 4 or more tribes. They lived in the areas called, Quebec (southern), Kansas, Oklahoma, Ohio and Michigan. The Huron spoke Wendat, an Iroquoian language.

Bibliography

Iroquois Timeline:

Video of the Beaver War:

Bibliography

The Indigenous People of the United States. (2012). Retrieved April 26, 2014, from Beaver War: http://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/the-indian-wars/beaver-wars.htm

The Iroquois. (2013). Retrieved April 29, 2014, from Canada History: http://www.canadahistory.com/sections/eras/newfrance/theiroquois.htm

Bain, C. M. (2008). Pearsoon Canadian History 7. Don Mill: Pearson Education Canada.

Iroquois. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2014, from Britannica School : http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/599889

Iroquois War. (n.d.). Retrieved 2014, from Iroquois War: http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/iroquois-wars/

Iroquois Wars. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2014, from Iroquois Wars: http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/iroquois-wars/

Redish, L., & Lewis, O. (2006). Wyandot Indian Fact Sheet. Retrieved April 28, 2014, from Native American Facts for Kids: http://www.bigorrin.org/wyandot_kids.htm

Webster, C. (2009). Canadian Aboriginal Art And Culture, Huron. Calgary: Weigl Educational Publishers Limited.

Wilcox, C. (2007). Native American Histories, the Iroquois. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company.

Map that shows where the Huron/Wendat and their neighbours were located.

By Tina

Huron and Iroquois