Iroquois Native Americans How did the Iroquois adapt to there environment? by Lilly Richards http://www.ahsd25.k12.il.us/Curriculum%20Info/NativeAmericans/woodlandclothing.html

Introduction The Iroquois believed in working together to get food, build houses, and to make the laws. They also believed in the Great Spirit. The Great Spirit made all of the things on earth.

Food The Iroquois grew crops, went fishing, and gathered food. They farmed corn, beans, squash (these were called The 3 Sisters. They were the most important crops.) green beans, lima beans, kidney beans, and pumpkins. Here are some of the things the Iroquois gathered: wild nuts, berries, and eggs. They got the eggs from turtles and birds. The Iroquois hunted black bear, elk, and deer. Another resource they used was fish. http://nativeamericans.mrdonn.org/northeast/iroquois/3sisters.html

Shelter The Iroquois lived in longhouses. Actually, they called themselves people of the longhouse. Men built the longhouses(and also repaired them) while the women did the cooking. The men built the longhouses from birch bark. (they also built canoes that way.) Many families lived in one longhouse. If they lived together they were usually in the same clan. http://www.ahsd25.k12.il.us/Curriculum%20Info/NativeAmericans/wood.html

Clothing The Iroquois made their clothes out of deerskin. The men wore breech clothes while the women wore a skirt or dress. They all wore leggings, shirts, and for shoes they wore moccasins. For decoration they put dyed porcupine quills on their clothes. http://www.bigorrin.org/iroquois_kids.htm

Natural Resources The biggest natural resources were: water, trees, and woodland animals. The water was important for fishing, washing, and drinking. The trees were important for building things including canoes and longhouses. The animals were important for eating. http://www.ahsd25.k12.il.us/Curriculum%20Info/NativeAmericans/woodland.html

Weather & Climate There were four seasons where the Iroquois lived. The winters were cold and snowy. The summers were hot and humid.

Travel The Iroquois traveled by foot or by canoe. They mostly traveled by foot instead of canoe. In winter they walked with snowshoes. http://www.bigorrin.org/iroquois_kids.htm http://teacherweb.com/WQ/ElementarySchool/Michigan_Native_Americans/gallery1.aspx

Interesting facts There are six tribes in the Iroquois Nation. They are the Confederacy. They are called Seneca, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, and Cayuga. The Iroquois had a law that was called Great law of Peace. This meant Iroquois people can NOT kill each other. The laws were called Written Constitution. There laws were written on 114 beads (called wampum beads.)

References http://nativeamericans.mrdonn.org/index.ht ml http://www.ahsd25.k12.il.us/Curriculum%20I nfo/NativeAmericans/index.html http://teacherweb.com/WQ/ElementarySch ool/Michigan_Native_Americans/gallery1.asp x http://www.bigorrin.org/iroquois_kids.htm