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Iroquois Women

Glossary of Terms

The Iroquois people were rooted in the land, which designated each person an important function as the seasons changed. Men were hunters and warriors, providers and protectors of the community. Women owned the houses, gathered wild foods, cooked, made basket s and clothing, and cared for the children.

Women have always had an honored place in Iroquois society, and they possess great responsibility and power. Clan mothers , the leaders of the clan , select the council members, or chiefs, and have veto power over the men's decisions. Women not only manage the political life of the Iroquois, they are caretakers of the agricultural cycle as well.

They have always planted, cultivated , harvested , and processed the crops.

downloaded from The Iroquois of the Northeast on July 12, 2002

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

agricultural cycle-

growing of plants from seed to fruit or vegetable

basket-

a container, usually made by weaving pieces of plant material together

clan-

group of people with the same interests

clan mothers-

women who were the leaders of a group of people in a clan

cultivated-

made the ground ready for growing plants

designated-

gave

harvested-

collected the ripe fruits and vegetables of plants in a garden or a field that was planted

honored-

special

owned-

had

possess-

have

processed-

got the fruits and vegetables ready to use for food

responsibility-

job or jobs to do that are very important

veto power-

can say "no" to the ideas of others

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