Iqualit and Eastern Woodlands
~Iroquois and Eastern Woodland~
-Image and explanation of their type of shelter:
* They have lived in their present territories since before 1200.
* They built large towns, heavily guarded by palisades of logs.
* Towns were surrounded by large fields of maize, beans, squash, and sunflowers.
* Their town usually contained several rows of longhouses, sometimes as many as fifty in a row.
* Each extended family of the town lived in a longhouse, which was divided into several compartments, or hearths, one for each nuclear family.
Food and Gathering
They grew crops such as- beans, sunflower, squash, and the staple crop of crop.
Women owned fields in which crops were grown.
Responsible for making sure that crops were grest and harvested.
- There were 2 clan chiefs.
- one military chief and 1 civil chief.
Military chief responsible for settling conflicts with other groups
Civil chief responsible for directing normal responsibilities of the clan.
Elder women chose the elders and could remove them if they were poor leaders.
Councils held to discuss things concerning the clan.
Each town sent representatives to the council.
When matters concerned the entire nation, there would be a peaceful council.
Each tribe sent a representative to this council.
Decisions were made democratically.
Society and Government
Art
The artwork of the Iroquois is a huge part of the culture. Iroquois art like many forms of art tends to represent the beliefs of its creators and the heritage of the creators people. Each piece of art carries with it the history and in many cases the legend in which their lives and beliefs are based.
For example Iroquois art pieces such as the faceless doll, more commonly the Iroquois have their art implemented on clothing and accessories. Possibly their best known art is the usage of beads..