The Haudenosaunee are like everyone else in that they make their own choices of what religion to follow. They can practice Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, or any other of the numerous religions of the world. Many Haudenosaunee follow the traditional Longhouse Way which revolves around the concept of giving thanks to all aspects of the natural world. When the Europeans arrived in North America they began an intensive campaign to convert the Native peoples to Christianity. During the 17th century, the Jesuits established a number of missions as part of France's attempts to colonize the "New World." From 1654  to 1708 the Jesuits built 13 missions among the five Haudenosaunee nations. By 1708 they were all abandoned. A number of the converted Haudenosaunee then moved to Canada and established the community of Kahnawake and later Akwesasne.  In the late 1700s and early 1800s a man named Handsome Lake had a number of visions in which the Creator gave him instructions to bring to the people. The teachings of Handsome Lake are based in part on traditional beliefs, but also incorporate a number of Christian concepts.  People who follow the traditional Longhouse Ways often disagree with the teachings of Handsome Lake because they feel he was influenced by the Quaker religion

LONGHOUSE RELIGION

The Longhouse religion is based on the concept of thanksgiving.  Ceremonies are conducted year round and follow the cycles of the moon. Each month has a different moon and each moon has a ceremony. The cycle of ceremonies begins in the middle of winter with the mid winter ceremony. The Thanksgiving address is said before the start of all ceremonies. It is recited in order to let the Creator and all of creation know that the people are thankful for everything on Earth and in the Creator’s Land. 

The religious ceremonies of the traditional Haudenosaunee take place in a Longhouse.  Longhouses today are modern public buildings, no longer made of poles and bark, although a few old ones still have log walls. Some Longhouses have two doors either at the opposite ends or on the two sides. Men enter through one door and women the other. Within the Longhouse are rows of benches that go completely around all four sides. Men sit on one half of the Longhouse. Women sit on the other half of the Longhouse.   In the center, one or two long benches are used by the singers.  At both ends of the Longhouse is a wood stove or fireplace. These stoves are regularly used for burning tobacco or for ritual use of the ashes.  Food is distributed in the Longhouse, but it is prepared in the nearby cook house. Food is prepared for ceremonies and then distributed to the people before the ceremony ends.

HANDSOME LAKE

Starting in 1799 a Seneca man named Handsome Lake was given a number of visions by the Creator. These visions were meant to help the Haudenosaunee.  Handsome Lake's teachings lead many people to accept a new Iroquois religion, one based upon traditional beliefs, but that also helped Haudenosaunee to adjust to new pressures from non-Native people.

As in the traditional Longhouse beliefs Handsome Lake believed that the people needed to continue to celebrate the annual cycle of ceremonies.  Unlike the traditional Longhouse beliefs Handsome Lake asked his followers to give-up alcohol, and to stop the practice of witchcraft.  Also, individuals in the community who were not behaving properly were to confess at longhouse ceremonies.  The nuclear family was to be strengthened, by no longer allowing divorce, by ending abortion, by welcoming the conception of children, and by warning the mothers-in-law not to meddle in families. Farming was to become a more important element in the community as practiced by men.  The sale of land was to be stopped. Iroquois should combine all their separate communities into one.