Mohawk Culture The History Behind the Hairdo by Simone T. Ribke

These days, lots of kids have mohawks. But did you know there’s a history behind the hairdo?

The mohawk hairstyle is “man-eaters.” This does not named after the Native mean that they ate people. American tribe. Before battle, It means they were erce Mohawk warriors shaved the warriors. The Mohawk have a sides of their heads. They different name for themselves. left a thin strip of hair down It means “people of the flint.” the middle. Mohawks were part of the “Mohawk” is what their Iroquois Confederacy. This enemies called them. It meant nation formed in the 1600s. It

2017 Reading Is Fundamental • Content and art created by Simone Ribke Mohawk Culture was made up of ve tribes. A Punk music was shocking, too. sixth tribe joined in 1722. Each It was also fierce. tribe lived in one region. The regions spanned Pennsylvania, By the 1980s, a lot more New York, and Canada. people had mohawks. People with mohawks were In the book Eagle Song, Danny considered fierce. Bigtree’s family was probably Mohawk. Danny misses his Why was a person with a old home in Akwesasne. This mohawk considered fierce? is a town in New York. It is Was it the way that punks located in Mohawk territory. acted? Or is it because of the origin of the hairstyle? The A Fierce Reputation answer is: probably both. From Punk to Funk The mohawk hairstyle disappeared for about 25 years. It popped up again in the early 2000s. Suddenly everyone wanted a mohawk. Mohawks are still fierce. Lots of different types of Punks and punk rock began people wear mohawks today. in the 1970s. Many punks But these days, fierce has a had mohawks. They rebelled new meaning. It means well- against “normal” ways of dressed and good looking. dressing and behaving. Punks Not bad for a hairdo that dates wore their hair, clothes, and back more than 500 years! makeup in shocking new ways.

2017 Reading Is Fundamental • Content and art created by Simone Ribke Mohawk Culture The History Behind the Hairdo by Simone T. Ribke

Nowadays, you probably know a few kids with a mohawk. But did you know there’s a history behind the hairdo?

The mohawk hairstyle is named they ate people. It means that after the Native American tribe. they were erce warriors. The Before battle, Mohawk warriors Mohawk’s name for themselves shaved the sides of their heads. means “people of the flint.” They left a thin strip of hair down the middle. Mohawks were members of the Iroquois Confederacy. The name Mohawk comes from This was a nation that formed a name their enemies called them. in the 1600s. It was made up That name meant “man-eaters.” of ve different Indian tribal This does not really mean that nations. A sixth tribal nation

2017 Reading Is Fundamental • Content and art created by Simone Ribke Mohawk Culture joined the Confederacy in rebelled against “normal” ways 1722. Members of the Iroquois of dressing and behaving. They Confederacy lived in and around wore clothes, makeup, and Pennsylvania, New York, and hairstyles that were shocking and Canada. Tribes that were part sometimes weird. Punk music of the Confederacy refer to was also fierce and shocking. themselves as Iroquois today. By the 1980s, mohawks became more commonplace. But people In the book Eagle Song, Danny with mohawks had a reputation Bigtree’s family most likely for being fierce. was Mohawk. Danny mentions missing his old home in a town How did the mohawk hairstyle called Akwesasne. This is a get a fierce reputation? Was it town in New York. Akwesasne because of punk behavior? Or is located in what once was was it because of the origins Mohawk territory. of the hairdo? The answer is: probably both. A Fierce Reputation From Punk to Funk The mohawk hairstyle all but disappeared for nearly 25 years. It popped up again in the early 2000s. Suddenly everyone—kids, adults, even grandparents— wanted a mohawk. The mohawk Men (and sometimes women) was still considered erce. But began to wear mohawks in the the word fierce now has a new 1970s. In those days, a mohawk meaning: well-dressed and good was a pretty extreme hairstyle. It looking. Not bad for a hairdo that was usually only worn by punks. dates back before the discovery of America! Punks and punk rock came on the scene in the 1970s. Punks

2017 Reading Is Fundamental • Content and art created by Simone Ribke Mohawk Culture The History Behind the Hairdo by Simone T. Ribke

Nowadays, you’re bound to see a handful of kids at school with a mohawk. But did you know there’s a history behind the hairdo? The mohawk hairstyle is named that they ate people. It means that after the Native American tribe. they were fierce warriors. The Before battle, Mohawk warriors Mohawk’s name for themselves shaved the sides of their heads, means “people of the flint.” leaving a thin strip of hair down Mohawks were members of the the middle. Iroquois Confederacy. This was a The name Mohawk comes from nation that formed in the 1600s a name their enemies called them, and was made up of ve different meaning “man-eaters.” The term Indian tribal nations. A sixth tribal man-eaters does not really mean nation joined the Confederacy in

2017 Reading Is Fundamental • Content and art created by Simone Ribke Mohawk Culture

1722. Members of the Iroquois and punk rock were a cultural Confederacy lived in and around and musical movement. Punks Pennsylvania, New York, and rebelled against “normal” ways of Canada. Tribes that were part of dressing and behaving. They wore the Confederacy largely refer to clothes, makeup, and hairstyles themselves as Iroquois today. that were shocking and sometimes weird. Punk music was also erce, In the book Eagle Song, Danny shocking, and different. By the Bigtree’s family most likely was 1980s, people with mohawks had a Mohawk. Danny mentions missing reputation for being fierce as well. his old home in a town called Akwesasne, which is in New York. Was it punk behavior or the origins Akwesasne is located in what once of the hairstyle that gave mohawks was Mohawk territory. a fierce reputation? The answer is that it was probably both. A Fierce Reputation From Punk to Funk The mohawk hairstyle all but disappeared for nearly 25 years, but then it made a comeback in the early 2000s. Suddenly everyone—kids, adults, even grandparents—wanted a mohawk. The mohawk was still considered fierce, but the word Men (and sometimes women) fierce now has a new meaning: well- began to wear mohawks starting in dressed and good looking. Not bad the 1970s. In those days, a mohawk for a hairdo that dates back before was a pretty extreme hairstyle, the discovery of America! usually only worn by punks. Punks

2017 Reading Is Fundamental • Content and art created by Simone Ribke