Native American Tribes The Onondaga & Navajo

The Onondaga Native American tribe located in what is now the central part of New York state. One of six tribes part of League of the Iroquois League would meet in Onondaga which served as their capital.

Onondaga History Around since about 1200 AD. During American Revolutionary War, Onondaga remained neutral until Americans attacked main village. Joined British along with most of League of the Iroquois. When America gained independence, many Onondaga went to Six Nations, Ontario. In 1794, Onondaga signed Treaty of Canandaigua. Made it so U.S. acknowledged Onondaga’s right to their homeland.

Other Important Things to Know About the Onondaga Very influential tribe. Lived in villages of wood, bark longhouses. Related families lived together. Acquired French language from Canada. Generally did not believe in fighting. Left the Confederation during the American Revolution.

The Navajo From southwest, with most of their tribe members living in Arizona and New Mexico. The Navajo are the largest federally recognized Native American tribe in the US.

Navajo History Before contact with Pueblo and Spanish, Navajo were hunters and gatherers. After contact with Pueblo, began planting crops. After contact with Spanish, began herding sheep and goats. Navajo and Apache are believed to have migrated from Alaska and western Canada around 1400 AD. Lived in hogans which are made from wood and mud. Navajo tribe is normally matrilineal.

Navajo History Continued 1846, US signed peace treaty with Navajo, but neither groups honored the treaty. 1849, US signed treaty with Navajo allowing US to build forts on Navajo land. 1861, US began attacking Navajo in great numbers. They began a scorched earth campaign, which killed Navajo and destroyed their land, crops, and homes. Two years later, the final Navajo surrendered. 1864, Navajo forced to walk 300 miles to Fort Sumner in New Mexico for internment, but this failed. 1868, US signed a treaty allowing Navajo to return to a reservation on a small portion of their homeland.

Important Things to Know About the Navajo Fierce warriors and hunters in the Southwest Eventually intermarried with the Pueblo people and became weavers Continued culture on a reservation