The from the Atlantic to the
Mississippi and from Canada to Florida provided abundant
for the many different peoples living
there. Farming tribes built and stayed in one
place. Hunters, like the of Maine, moved from
place to place. Many fished and traveled by canoe.
The Hodenosaunee
The Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk of
upstate New York spoke . They called themselves
the Hodenosaunee or "people of the longhouse," after their
multi-family dwellings. Their fine beadwork was called .
The clans were led by who governed the longhouses.
By 1300, discord grew as the number of Hodenosaunee increased.In 1520, constant battles over hunting grounds convinced and Deganawida, two leaders and peacemakers, to persuade the Hodenosaunee to form the Iroquois , a peaceful union of the tribes. Once the Tuscarora joined in 1722, it was renamed the .
The Grand Council
Guidelines, or laws called the , were developed by Hiawatha and to keep peace using discussion and compromise.