WE ARE Americans TOO- How The Iroquois Influenced The Formation of the Early AMERICAN government

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WE ARE Americans TOO- How The Iroquois Influenced
The Formation of the Early AMERICAN government
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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?
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The Creators 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

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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").

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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.

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More than A Game

• Each stick
• Is individually
• Crafted for
• The first
• Born male child
• They play with
• The same stick
• For life

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Reclaiming their sport The Thompson Brothers-
Sprit of the Game

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vg2CmZbuVMtE
• 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?

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IROQUOIS- WhatS 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."

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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.

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• 1. Why was the Iroquois village set up with
  palisades (walls)?
• 2. How does the set up of the village reflect
  their values?

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IROQUOIS DWELLING
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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.

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Dekanawidas Legend PEACE AND UNITY

• The Iroquois must come together by taking hold
  of each others 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!

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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 Oneida One Onondaga Slob
Seneca Can Cayuga Munch Mohawk
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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.

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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.

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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?
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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.

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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.

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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?

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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?