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THE IROQUOIS TODAY
Where They Live
The Iroquois people of today live in seventeen scattered communities in New York State, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Ontario, and Quebec. Some also live in eastern urban centers such as Rochester and Brooklyn. The Iroquois are six nations who joined together to form a confederacy of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora Nations.
In New York State, their communities are to be found, going from east to west, at the following locations:
In Wisconsin, Iroquois live at Oneida, near Green Bay.
In Oklahoma, Iroquois live near Turkey Ford, northeast Oklahoma (the Seneca-Cayuga Nation).
In Canada, Iroquois live at the following locations, from east to west:
Why the Communities Are Scattered
At the time of the American Revolution most of the Iroquois lived in upstate New York. A few Mohawks, under the pressure of Jesuit missionaries, had already moved north to Kanawake and Akwesasne beginning in the late 17th century. During the Revolution some remained loyal to England; others joined the rebels; others were neutral. After the war all the NY State Mohawks who supported the British moved to Canada, settling mainly at Tyendinaga and Six Nations. A few also went to Akwesasne (U.S. and Canada). Many of the Oneida who were pro-American ,were later persuaded to move to Wisconsin; others moved to Six Nations and Oneida in Canada and Onondaga; a handful refused to sell land and remained at Oneida in the US. The pro-American Onondaga remained in their original territory. Most of the Cayuga who were pro-British, moved to live with the Seneca in N.Y., and others went on to Six Nations In Canada. The Tuscarora, who were pro- American, bought their, present reservation with monies granted to them by the Federal Government. The Seneca, most of whom were pro-British, settIed on extensive reservations. Later, Seneca territory was sold in land deals of dubious legality so that what remains are the reservations at Tonawanda, Allegany, and Cattaraugus; a few Seneca moved Six Nations, Canada.
The American Revolution divided the Iroquois. The treaties after the war left them separated by an international border that they stiII do not recognize. Land sales reduced their territory drastically. Even more land was lost to highways, power lines, reservoirs dams, seaway projects. railroads, and other projects that benefited non-Iroquois.
Today each community has its own separate government. Some are run by chiefs elected by vote; others are administered by hereditary chiefs appointed by the traditional clan matrons. The hereditary chiefs meet periodically as the continuing Iroquois Confederacy that conceives of itself as independent of U.S. or Canadian control. Despite the fact that the Iroquois are separated by miles of Iand now in the possession of the United States, they continue to maintain strong links to each other whether it be through family, political or religious beliefs, or art. Iroquois identity continues to remain strong and to unify the people.
How They Live Today
Iroquois do not live in teepees or bark houses. A few log cabins can be found on reservations, and these may date back to the Revolution, when all Iroquois gave up living in their traditional elm bark Ionghouses. Today most Iroquois live in frame houses, modular homes, or trailers. A few farm their land and some have small kitchen gardens. Much of their land Is left in its natural state. Often a state or local highway cuts through the land, with a sign posted to alert the driver that they are on Indian territory. Depending upon the community, there are convenience stores, gas stations, churches, nursing homes, libraries, auto repair shops, or other commercial enterprises, such as beauty parlors, lumber mills, banks, construction companies or even a shopping mall on the land and a few Iroquois advertise crafts for sale at small shops or at their homes. Smoke shops and Bingo halls are also becoming familiar at some communities. Some have culture centers and museums.
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The standard of living on reservation is generally below that of the surrounding white communities. A number of Iroquois are wage workers, earning a living as teachers, factory workers, construction workers (high steel particularly), secretaries, or perhaps as employees of their nation’s government. Quite a few are on welfare. Unemployment is a serious problem.
Elementary school education is often given on the reservation. High school students have to travel to white schools off the reservation. Increasing numbers go on to college and graduate school.
At many reservations, Iroquois have built and are building libraries, health centers, cultural centers, museums, and sports and recreation centers staffed by Iroquois. Sports such as lacrosse and hockey are strongly supported.
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There are churches of various denominations for the Christians, and the modern, wood-framed version of the traditional Ionghouse is evident at most reservations for the followers of their traditional religion.
There are sizable communities in urban areas such as Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Brooklyn, Montreal, Toronto, and Hamilton.
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The Importance of Arts and Crafts
One of the most uniting factors in Iroquois culture is the common heritage of their arts and crafts. Even after centuries of pressure from whites to give up their Iroquois identity and be assimilated, the Iroquois have retained or reasserted their uniqueness in their arts. Since the late sixties there has been strong revival of many of their arts. Iroquois arts carry down through the ages the proud traditions of Iroquois culture celebrated at the Festivals and at the Iroquois Museum.
