Did you Know? List of Interesting Facts about Iroquois Indians
Facts are statements which are held to be true and often contrasted with opinions and beliefs. Our unusual and interesting facts about Iroquois Indians, trivia and information, including some useful statistics will fascinate everyone from kids and children to adults. Interesting Facts about Iroquois Indians are as follows: - Fact 1 - The Iroquois were a group of tribes referred to as the Iroquois Confederacy consisting of the Mohawk, Seneca, Oneida, Onondaga and Cayuga tribes which were formed between 1450 and 1600. These five Indian nations were later joined by the Tuscarora tribe.
- Fact 2 - The Iroquois are also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse".
Iroquois Warrior - Fact 3 - The Iroquois are the indigenous people of north-eastern North America, the state of New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia
- Fact 4 - The Iroquois were a static tribe of hunter farmers. Men were in charge of hunting for food and protecting the camp and the women were in charge of the home and land
- Fact 5 - Homes and Houses: Longhouses were permanent houses and homes used by hunter farmers. These houses were built up to 200 feet long, 20 feet wide and 20 feet high. They often had 2 storeys - a raised platform created the top storey which was ideal for sleeping.
- Fact 6 - Longhouses were similar in design to wigwams, their frames being made with poles and covered with bark. Separate rooms were created in longhouses by using wooden screens and mats
- Fact 7 - The name of famous Iroquois leaders were Deganawida, sometimes known as the Great Peacemaker and Hiawatha who formed the confederacy of tribes.
- Fact 6 - Clothes and Clothing - Clothes were generally made from the skins of animals which were sewn together from the thread made from the sinews of deer. Some clothes were also made from woven cloth
- Fact 7 - Clothing for men: Men wore breechcloths which were made from a long rectangular piece of animal skin or cloth which was worn between the legs and tucked over a belt, so that the flaps of the breechcloth covered the front and behind. The legs were bare.
- Fact 8 - Clothing: Special, highly decorated aprons were worn over breechcloths and worn on special occasions
- Fact 9 - Clothing: Leggings were worn by both men and women to cover the bare legs and were sometimes decorated with a fringe
- Fact 10 - Clothing for women: Women wore wraparound skirts over their leggings
- Fact 11 - Shoes and footwear: Moccasins were made of soft leather or deerskin and sewn together with deer sinew. Moccasins were a soft slip on shoe, or slipper, consist of a sole and sides made of one piece of leather, stitched together at the top and were a light beige color.
- Fact 12 - Headdresses: Roach headdresses (also called porcupine roaches) were worn by the Iroquois men which was made of a stiff thin strip of animal hair that goes over the top of the head. They were held open by comb-like objects, originally carved of antler, called roachspreaders. Roach headdresses stood straight up from the head like a tuft or crest and are closely associated with the Mohawk or Mohican tribes. Roach headdresses were made from a variety of hairs including white deer tail hair, often dyed red, moose-hair, porcupine hair and black turkey beard.
- Fact 13 - Roach headdresses were attached to a scalp-lock to look like a crest, with the rest of the head probably shaven. The name derives from its resemblance to the roaching or clipping of a horse’s mane. Sometimes feathers or shells were added as decorations
- Fact 14 - The Iroquois Indians used elm-bark or dugout canoes
- Fact 15 - Women's Hair: Hair was kept long, sometimes braided and on special occasions braids were decorated with bright strips of cloth and shells
- Fact 16 - Jewelry: Women wore bead necklaces
- Fact 17 - Face paint / War Paint: Men wore bright face paint in times of war. Tribal tattoos were also used to decorate their faces and bodies
- Fact 18 - Iroquois weapons: Weapons included bows and arrows, war clubs, spears and knives
- Fact 19 - Enemies of the Iroquois tribe included the the Algonquins, Montagnais, Hurons, Ojibway (aka Chippewa) and the Mohicans
- Fact 20 - History: 1700's - The Iroquois took the British side in the wars between the British and the French - called the Beaver War
- Fact 21 - Food: Men hunted turkeys, deer, small game and fish. As farmers crops were produced for corn, beans, squash and sunflower seeds. Crops, meat and fish were supplemented by nuts, berries and fruits
- Fact 22 - The Iroquois call themselves the Hodenosaunee, which means "People of the Longhouse"
Facts about Iroquois Indians
We have included a selection of trivia and interesting facts about Iroquois Indians which we hope will be of help with homework. Most of these interesting facts about Iroquois Indians are quite amazing and some are little known pieces of trivia! Many of these interesting and random pieces of information and fun facts about Iroquois Indians and info will help you increase your knowledge on the subject of Iroquois Indians. |
