IROQUOIS WEBQUEST

by Rick Riordan, Saint Mary's Hall, last updated 7/2003

Introduction | The Task | Resources | The Process | Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

As experts in Native American culture, your team has been contracted by the Smithsonian Institute to unravel the mysteries of six Iroquois artifacts which have recently come into their museum.

The Smithsonian wants to put these artifacts on display as part of a special Iroquois exhibit, but can only do so if the artifacts are properly identified.

To do this, your team must research many facets of Iroquois culture -- politics, food, games, and stories.

WHO WERE THE IROQUOIS?

As your team knows, " Iroquois" does not refer to a single Indian tribe. Rather, the Iroquois were a collection of six different tribes which banded together from the 1300s through the 1700s to form a great alliance, called the Iroquois Confederacy. 

Many native tribes outside the Confederacy spoke the Iroquoian language. This can make the term "Iroquois" confusing. For example, the powerful Huron tribe spoke Iroquoian, but they were not part of the Iroquois Confederacy.  In fact, they were ancient enemies of the Iroquois. It's sort of like saying that Americans speak English, but we are not English.

To make matters even more confusing, "Iroquois" is not what the tribes of the Confederacy call themselves at all. Iroquois was a name given to them by their enemies, the Algonquians. The Europeans picked up the name, and so the Confederacy has been called the Iroquois ever since. You'll find out more about this as you research.

WHY SHOULD WE LEARN ABOUT THE IROQUOIS?

The Iroquois were very important players in early colonial America. They controlled most of present-day New York, and laid claim to the entire Ohio Valley. They had a reputation as excellent warriors and even better diplomats. Both the English and the French tried to win Iroquois support whenever the Europeans went to war in the New World.

The Iroquois also call themselves the world's oldest participatory democracy. The future United States borrowed a lot of ideas from the way the Iroquois Confederacy was governed.

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO?

You are now ready to start your mission. Proceed to the TASK page to view the mysterious six artifacts.

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