mohawk community.pdf

Curriculum Connection Name: ________________________ 34 A3.1 Background The name Mohawk means “man-eaters”. They were given this name by their enemies, the Algonki...

Curriculum Connection Name: ________________________ 34 A3.1 Background The name Mohawk means “man-eaters”. They were given this name by their enemies, the Algonkin. While it is unlikely that they ate people, the name reflects how tough the Mohawk were. The Mohawk nation are part of the Haudenosaunee, which means Six Nations. The Mohawk are still around today. Government – How They Made Decisions The Mohawk nation is part of the Grand Council. Mohawk chiefs are chosen by Mohawk clan mothers. The chiefs on the council made decisions for the Mohawk people. This council was a form of government before Canada even existed. The founding members of Canada’s Confederation used many ideas from the Haudenosaunee’s form of government as a model to make the government for Canada. Shelter – What They Lived In The Mohawk people lived in Longhouses, which were permanent structures made of wood and covered with elm bark. These longhouses could be up to a hundred feet long and house multiple families inside. Up to 60 people could reside in a longhouse. Gender Roles – What Did The Men And Women Do? The Mohawk men were in charge of hunting, trading, and war, while the women took care of farming, property, and the family. The Mohawk women were in charge of the clan’s day to day activities, but the chief (leader) of the nation was always a man. The chief would be responsible for making military decisions and trade agreements. Both genders took part in storytelling, artwork and music, and providing medicine. Hobbies and Games For fun, the children had dolls and toys to play with. The boys enjoyed a game where you try and throw a dart through a moving hoop. The girls liked playing with cornhusk dolls. Lacrosse was popular for children and young adults. Transportation – How Did They Get Around? The Mohawk used two types of canoes. One canoe was made from elm bark and was light and fast. The other was a dugout canoe made from hollowed-out logs that was stronger and made to carry many people. They would start a fire in the log to help them dig it out. The mohawk also used dog-sleds and laced snowshoes to travel through the snow. © Super Simple Sheets supersimplesheets.com