Grade 4 Social Studies/ElA Integrated Cuniculum: New York State History and Government
Unit
The Three Worlds: Native Americans, Europeans and Africans Meet in NYS
l:
Lesson 3: Comparing the Iroquois and Algonquin: Political Life and
Tribal Relations
Woodland Indians in New York
The Iroquois and Algonquin
We know that as far back as the 1300s A.D. there were two major groups
of Native Americans in what is now New York State: the Iroquois and the
Algonquin. The Iroquois lived in the northern and central parts of New York
as showr on the map. The Iroquois, named by the Europeans, called
themselves Haudenosaunee (The People of the Longhouse). The Five Iroquois
Nations were the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and the Seneca.
The Algonquin (sometimes spelled Algonquian or Algonkian) lived in
southern New York State in what is now Long Island and the Hudson River
Valley. The Algonquin tribes included Mahicans, Shinnecock, and the Lenni
Lenape. Some of these tribes still exist today.
Although both groups of tribes occupied what is now New York State and
both groups belonged to the Eastern Woodland group of Native Americans, the
Iroquois and the Algonquin, spoke different languages and used different
nafural resources. Because they lived nearer the ocean and salt water, the
Algonquin learned to build bigger boats and to fish for clams, mussels, welks,
and other salt water fish. The Algonquin used the shells of the clams and welks
to make wampum beads. Wampum was white or purple beads with a hole
made through them so they could be strung on a rope. The Iroquois and
Algonquin used wampum in ceremonies, as badges of office worn by tribal
officials, as gifts, and in exchange for furs. The Iroquois had to get wampum
from the Algonquin, probably by trading something the Algonquin needed.
Since the Iroquois did not live near the sea they couldn't get the necessary raw
materials to make their own wampum. When the Europeans came to New
York they mistook wampum for money and used it to trade with the tribes.
Grade 4 Integrated Social Studies/English Language Arts Curriculum
Putnam/Northem Westchester BOCES
Page 2 Revised 7llll2008
Grade 4 Social Studies/ElA Integrated Curriculum: New York State History and Government
The Three Worlds: Native Americans, Europeans and Africans Meet in NYS
Unit
l:
Lesson 3: Comparing the Iroquois and Algonquin: Political
Life and Tribal Relations
The Iroquois depended more on the rivers and fresh water sources like
Lake Ontario for food and transportation. Since the water was calmer, their
boats were smaller, and they fished for fresh-water kinds of fish, like perch and
trout.
Before 157A A.D., the Iroquois were constantly fighting among
themselves. Then everything changed. Two men, Deganawida and Hiawatha,
caused the Five Iroquois Nations to unite and enter a time of peace.
Deganawida was a prophet, someone who has a vision about how things are
going to be in the future. He traveled throughout the Iroquois lands and told
people about his vision of peace and power. He gained the name, The Great
Peacemaker. One chief he influenced was Hiawatha. Hiawatha was a skilled
politician and a great speaker. He convinced the Five Nations, who shared a
common language, to actually join together in an Iroquois confederacy. In a
confederacy the leaders come together in a Grand Council to discuss matters
that are important to all of them, such as war, peace, or trade. The Council
leaders (always men, but chosen by the women) were called sachems. The
Iroquois had a total of 50 sachems, and all of them had to agree before a
decision could be made.
Together the Five Nations were stronger, but each of the Five Nations
stitl had its own governing body called a village council. Each tribe was
separated into clans (groups of people who have a common ancestor). The clan
was headed by a clan mother and was named for an animal such as bear, eel, or
turtle. These clan mothers were very powerful and made many important
decisions like how the land would be used and who would use it. They also
owned the longhouses in which they lived. The women also chose the men to
be the tribal council leaders.
The Algonquin never were unified in a confederacy. Each tribe was
independent. One tribe of the Lenni Lenape was the Delaware. The Europeans
gave that name to the people who lived along the Delaware River. The name
Delaware later came to be applied to almost all Lenape people. In Algonquin
Grade 4 Integrated Social Studies/English Language Arts Curriculum
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Grade 4 Social Studies/ElA Integrated Curriculum: New York State History and Government
The Three Worlds: Native Americans, Europeans and Africans Meet in NYS
Unit
l:
Lesson 3: Comparing the Iroquois and Algonquin: Political
Life and Tribal Relations
they called themselves Lenape (1en-NAH-pay) which means something like
"The People." They were among the first Indians to come in contact with the
Europeans (Dutch, English, & Swedish) in the early 1600s. The Delaware were
called the "Grandfather" tribe because they were respected by other tribes as
peacemakers, since they often helped to settle disputes among rival tribes. They
were also known for their fierceness and determination as waffiors when they
had to fight.
However, the Iroquois Confederacy had an advantage over other groups
when it came to war because all of their people were united. In 1722 the
Confederacy added yet another group, the Tuscarora, to make it still stronger.
Because of its strength, it usually overpowered the Algonquin. The Iroquois
Confederacy still exists today.
Grade 4 Integrated Social StudiesiEnglish Language Arts Curriculum
PutnamA.{orthem Westchester BOCES
Page 4 Revised 7llll2008