Grade 4 Social Studies/ElA Integrated Cuniculum: New York State History and Government Unit l: The Three Worlds: Native Americans, Europeans and Africans Meet in NYS Lesson 3: Comparing the Iroquois and Algonquin: Political Life and Tribal Relations

Woodland Indians in New York The Iroquois and Algonquin

We know that as far back as the 1300s A.D. there were two major groups of Native Americans in what is now New York State: the Iroquois and the Algonquin. The Iroquois lived in the northern and central parts of New York as showr on the map. The Iroquois, named by the Europeans, called themselves Haudenosaunee (The People of the Longhouse). The Five Iroquois Nations were the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and the Seneca.

The Algonquin (sometimes spelled Algonquian or Algonkian) lived in southern New York State in what is now Long Island and the Hudson River Valley. The Algonquin tribes included Mahicans, Shinnecock, and the Lenni Lenape. Some of these tribes still exist today.

Although both groups of tribes occupied what is now New York State and both groups belonged to the Eastern Woodland group of Native Americans, the Iroquois and the Algonquin, spoke different languages and used different nafural resources. Because they lived nearer the ocean and salt water, the Algonquin learned to build bigger boats and to fish for clams, mussels, welks, and other salt water fish. The Algonquin used the shells of the clams and welks to make wampum beads. Wampum was white or purple beads with a hole made through them so they could be strung on a rope. The Iroquois and Algonquin used wampum in ceremonies, as badges of office worn by tribal officials, as gifts, and in exchange for furs. The Iroquois had to get wampum from the Algonquin, probably by trading something the Algonquin needed. Since the Iroquois did not live near the sea they couldn't get the necessary raw materials to make their own wampum. When the Europeans came to New York they mistook wampum for money and used it to trade with the tribes.

Grade 4 Integrated Social Studies/English Language Arts Curriculum Putnam/Northem Westchester BOCES Page 2 Revised 7llll2008 Grade 4 Social Studies/ElA Integrated Curriculum: New York State History and Government Unit l: The Three Worlds: Native Americans, Europeans and Africans Meet in NYS Lesson 3: Comparing the Iroquois and Algonquin: Political Life and Tribal Relations

The Iroquois depended more on the rivers and fresh water sources like Lake Ontario for food and transportation. Since the water was calmer, their boats were smaller, and they fished for fresh-water kinds of fish, like perch and trout.

Before 157A A.D., the Iroquois were constantly fighting among themselves. Then everything changed. Two men, Deganawida and Hiawatha, caused the Five Iroquois Nations to unite and enter a time of peace. Deganawida was a prophet, someone who has a vision about how things are going to be in the future. He traveled throughout the Iroquois lands and told people about his vision of peace and power. He gained the name, The Great Peacemaker. One chief he influenced was Hiawatha. Hiawatha was a skilled politician and a great speaker. He convinced the Five Nations, who shared a common language, to actually join together in an Iroquois confederacy. In a confederacy the leaders come together in a Grand Council to discuss matters that are important to all of them, such as war, peace, or trade. The Council leaders (always men, but chosen by the women) were called sachems. The Iroquois had a total of 50 sachems, and all of them had to agree before a decision could be made.

Together the Five Nations were stronger, but each of the Five Nations stitl had its own governing body called a village council. Each tribe was separated into clans (groups of people who have a common ancestor). The clan was headed by a clan mother and was named for an animal such as bear, eel, or turtle. These clan mothers were very powerful and made many important decisions like how the land would be used and who would use it. They also owned the longhouses in which they lived. The women also chose the men to be the tribal council leaders.

The Algonquin never were unified in a confederacy. Each tribe was independent. One tribe of the Lenni Lenape was the Delaware. The Europeans gave that name to the people who lived along the Delaware River. The name Delaware later came to be applied to almost all Lenape people. In Algonquin Grade 4 Integrated Social Studies/English Language Arts Curriculum '"''H:iT*'gfl;HiT#""' Grade 4 Social Studies/ElA Integrated Curriculum: New York State History and Government Unit l: The Three Worlds: Native Americans, Europeans and Africans Meet in NYS Lesson 3: Comparing the Iroquois and Algonquin: Political Life and Tribal Relations they called themselves Lenape (1en-NAH-pay) which means something like "The People." They were among the first Indians to come in contact with the Europeans (Dutch, English, & Swedish) in the early 1600s. The Delaware were called the "Grandfather" tribe because they were respected by other tribes as peacemakers, since they often helped to settle disputes among rival tribes. They were also known for their fierceness and determination as waffiors when they had to fight.

However, the Iroquois Confederacy had an advantage over other groups when it came to war because all of their people were united. In 1722 the Confederacy added yet another group, the Tuscarora, to make it still stronger. Because of its strength, it usually overpowered the Algonquin. The Iroquois Confederacy still exists today.

Grade 4 Integrated Social StudiesiEnglish Language Arts Curriculum PutnamA.{orthem Westchester BOCES Page 4 Revised 7llll2008