Early People of the Americas

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Early People of the Americas
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First People in North America

• Scientists believe they were hunters from Asia
• Early New Yorkers were hunter-gatherers and
  started farming over 1,000 years ago

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Hunter-Gatherer vs. Early Farmers

• Grew food so they were able to stay in the same
  area
• Fewer people were needed to farm, so not everyone
  had to spend time growing food
• Grew food in the river valleys

• Moved from place to place to find food
• Traveled in bands of about 20 people
• Camped on hills to watch for animals

• Both worked to get food for themselves and the
  group

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People of the Eastern Woodlands

• 2 major groups Algonquin and Iroquois
• Used resources around them to meet their needs
• Learned about their past and the environment from
  storytellers

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Eastern Woodlands Shelters
Iroquois built LONGHOUSES and WIGWAMS.
http//www.germantown.k12.il.us/html/woodland2.htm
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http//www.geocities.com/metrolaxindy/flag.html
Start of the Iroquois Confederacy

• Hiawatha and Deganawida helped the Iroquois set
  up the Iroquois Confederacy
• Confederacy protected the safety
• Protected rights of the Iroquois people to have
  enough clothing, food, shelter and to speak and
  worship freely (One inspiration for our own Bill
  of Rights)

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Parts of the Confederacy
SENECA Keepers of the Western Door
CAYUGA
ONONDAGA Fire Keepers
S C O O M - T
ONEIDA
MOHAWK Keepers of the Eastern Door
TUSCARORA added in 1722
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Deganawida

• Known as the Great Peacemaker
• Developed the Great Laws
• Compared the Confederacy to a Longhouse Why?
  (check p. 72)

http//www.crystalinks.com/mohawk.html
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Iroquois Leadership

• Iroquois women
• Decided how land was used
• Owned longhouses
• Led clans
• Chose sachems to represent the clan at the
  council
• Clan mothers had final say in decision making

http//www.nysm.nysed.gov/womenshistory/skirt.html
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Sitting at the Council Fire

• Each village governed itself by a council
• 50 men gathered annually at the GRAND COUNCIL
  around a large fire
• Everyone had to agree before decisions were made

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Wampum

• Algonquin word for a string or belt of small
  polished beads, usually made from white shells
• Beads sewn on deerskin belts in special designs
• Passed around by SACHEMS whoever held WAMPUM
  could speak at the Great Council
• Sometimes used to record information
• Example Hiawatha Belt

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TODAY

• Approximately 60,000 Iroquois live in the
  Northeastern United States
• Most live in New York State
• The Grand Council still meets to make decisions