The Haudenosaunee

The Haudenosaunee, also known as the Iroquois, are a group of Indigenous

People who traditionally lived in North America. They were made up of five
tribes: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. Later, they
accepted the Tuscarora tribe into their confederacy, and then they became
known as the Six Nations. The Haudenosaunee lived in places like Ontario,
upstate New York, and Pennsylvania. They settled near lakes and hills
because it was easier to defend their communities in those areas. They
were not nomadic like some other First Nations, but they did move every ten
years to make sure they didn't use up all the resources, like animals, in one
place.

The Haudenosaunee had a special way of living together as a family. They

lived in longhouses made of saplings and elm bark. The family structure
was based on the clan system.
Each family had a Clan Mother
as the head, and all the female
descendants lived in the same
longhouse. The sons stayed
with their mother until they got
married, and then they moved
into their wife's house. The
children were taught by their
Elders and had many
"brothers" and "sisters". The women took care of the property and farming,
while the men took care of hunting and fishing. The Elders were highly
respected and helped raise the children.
The Haudenosaunee had their own government called the Iroquois
Confederacy. They had a Great Law of Peace that helped them make
decisions together. They had meetings called councils where they talked
about important things. They lived in longhouses and were farmers,
growing crops like corn, beans, and squash. Each group within the
confederacy had their own language and cultural customs. They were a
powerful group of people, and had an important impact on history. Even
today, their contributions are still felt.