WE ARE Americans TOO- How The Iroquois Influenced The Formation of

the Early AMERICAN government

Essential Questions:How has the Iroquois Contribution to the US Government been marginalized?

How Have the Iroquois been marginalized in their own sport of Lacrosse?

The Creator’s Game

• In 1998 the US Recognized the Iroquois as a Independent Country-however in 2003 during the World Lacrosse Games in England, their passports

• Were denied/and were • Refused entry • Even though they • Invented the origins

Of the game in 900 AD

The Origins of the Game

• Lacrosse was given its name by early French settlers, using the generic term for any game played with a curved stick (crosse) and a ball. Native terminology, however, tends to describe more the technique (cf. Onondaga DEHUNTSHIGWA'ES, "men hit a rounded object") or, especially in the southeast, to underscore the game's aspects of war surrogacy ("little brother of war").

Origins Continued

• The Game was said to be descended directly from the “Creator” and is considered by the Iroquois tribe to be sacred. In fact the game was originally played to settle intra-tribal war disputes.

• Estimates have the Iroquois playing the game since 900 AD.

More than A Game

Each stick

•Is individually

•Crafted for

•The first

•Born male child

•They play with

•The same stick

•For life

Reclaiming their sport: The Thompson Brothers- “Sprit of the Game”

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2CmZbuVMtE

• Upon viewing- keep THIS QUESTION IN MIND-Why is the Sport Considered More than A Game to the Thompson Brothers, How is it apart of their Cultural Identity?

IROQUOIS- What’S IN A Name?

Iroquois is an easily recognized name, but like the names of many tribes, it was given them by their enemies.

The Algonquin called them the Iroqu (Irinakhoiw) "rattlesnakes."

After the French added the Gallic suffix "-ois" to this insult, the name became Iroquois. The Iroquois call themselves Haudenosaunee meaning "people of the long house."

Location! Location! Location!The original homeland of the Iroquois was in upstate New

York between the Adirondack Mountains and Niagara Falls. Through conquest and migration, they gained control of most of the northeastern United States and eastern Canada.

1. Why was the Iroquois village set up with palisades (walls)?

2. How does the set up of the village reflect their values?

IROQUOIS DWELLING

Why did the nations unite?

Iroquois included FIVE NATIONS.

Only Oneida

One Onondaga

Slob Seneca

Can Cayuga

Munch Mohawk

*later Tuscarora joins the league in 1715

These five nations were frequently at war with each other and rival NY tribe, the Algonquins.

Dekanawida, a prophet, inspires Hiawatha to create an alliance.

Dekanawida’s Legend “PEACE AND UNITY”

“The Iroquois must come together by taking hold of each other’s hands so firmly and forming a circle that is a tree should fall upon it, it could not shake, could not break it, do that our people and grandchildren shall remain in the circle of security, peace, and happiness!”

Iroquois Confederacy:

The Five nations of the Iroquois formed an alliance to end fighting and become strong. Known as the League of the 5 Nations.

Only OneidaOne OnondagaSlob SenecaCan CayugaMunch Mohawk

Grand Council (sachems)

A council of 50 specially chosen tribal leaders who met to make decisions for the League of the 5 Nations.

Ex) decided on war and trade by VOTING.

Adapt: to adjust to the environment and surrounding resources.

i.e. Iroquois used bark to create longhouses. Plains Indians used buffalo skin to make tepees.

The Five Nations• In 1570 the members

of the Iroquois formed a confederation or loose alliance.

• Each tribe governed itself.

• Matters that were important to all, such as war and trade were decided by a GREAT COUNCIL.

• A constitution, or Great Law of Peace, was drafted.

Iroquois League

• Men from each of the five tribes served on the council.

• The oldest women of each tribe chose the council

• Each member had one vote

• All had to agree before anything was done.

How is the Iroquois league democratic?

The Iroquois Flag and the Hiawatha Wampum Belt

• The Hiawatha wampum belt is comprised of thirty eight rows.

• A heart as a great tree is located in the center.

• On both sides of the tree there are two squares, all are connected with the heart by white rows of wampum.

• The belt is the emblem of unity among the Five Nations.

Why is the formation of the Confederacy so important?

The Iroquois Constitution creates establishes a democratic government with rights and responsibilities of elected officials, a system for the creation of laws and settling of disputes between nations, and a process for declaring and conducting war.

The Iroquois Constitution becomes one of the influential documents in the creation of the U.S. Constitution.

4 Questions

• 1. Why do the Iroquois consider the Sport of Lacrosse to be more than a game?

• 2. In your opinion, do you think it was fair or unfair for the host country England to deny the Iroquois the opportunity to play their game in the World Games in 2008 over a passport issue?

3. How has the Iroquois’ Contribution to the US Government been marginalized?

4. How Have the Iroquois been marginalized in their own sport of Lacrosse?