The Three Nations Mi’kmaq Anishinabe Haudenosaunee

Mi’kmaq Mi’kmaq means “my brother” They farmed fresh water fish, hunted game and fished for eel and cod They lived close to the coast in summer and in the forest for winter so they could use the land wisely. The Mi’kmaq created canoes that could work in both the ocean and rivers. The canoes were built to handle large waves Decisions were made by the Saqamaw. The Council of Elders advised the Saqamaw and a runner was sent to the Grand Council for a more permanent solution. The Grand Council was a council of all 7 districts of the Mi’kmaq Nation.

Mi’kmaq men the men participated in meetings The men did the hunting and the fishing women young women were not allowed to participated in general meetings The women set up the camp and tended the crops

Anishinabe It means “the original people” They had different camps for summers and winters Anishinabe had different clans with their own responsibilities. In the clans people treated each other as family The Midewin Society were people with gifts as spiritual leaders and healers. Once the people were chosen, they had to go through 8 levels of secret training. They used medicines to heal, interpret dreams, and shared sacred teachings and songs Anishinabe people used canoes to harvest wild rice

Anishinabe Men Were involved in the process of decision-making Men hunted game Women Were involved in the process of decision-making Women tended the garden (corn and beans)

Haudenosaunee Men They could be members of the Hoyaneh Men hunted game Women Women can become clan mothers They could have a male leader replaced Women planted, tended and harvested the crops Women made the clothes

Haudenosaunee It means “people of the longhouse” The people lived in permanent houses with up to 1500 people Clan members live in a long house that had no windows but had holes in the roof that let in sunlight and let out the smoke Farming was an important part of the society (corn, squash and beans) Clan mothers are the women leaders that talk to the Hoyaneh (leaders of the Mohawk nation) Dekanawidah (the peace maker) brought the Great Law of Peace to the people The Great White Pine was a symbol for peace The Haudenosaunee made baskets that washed corn to make soup