Indigenous North American Regions and Haudenosaunee Creation Story – Comprehensive Notes
Grading logistics and class context
By end of Tuesday (date given: September 2), the instructor had started grading the graded, draft/essay assignments and completed through 20 submissions
Canvas/SpeedGrader note: grading appears in alphabetical order by surname; the instructor plans to alternate grading order (sometimes working backwards from surnames starting with Z) to avoid bias where students with later-alphabet surnames always receive grades later in the process
For the initial essay, if your last name falls within the first 20 (approx. up to the letters around J or L in the alphabet), your grade may already be posted in Canvas
The instructor intends to complete the rest of the essays later in that day and asks students to reach out with questions
The class will have an independent activity next Tuesday and will not meet face-to-face on that day; Padlet activity and QR code will be used for the in-class exercise
Recap of previous class and big-picture context
Earlier discussion covered various Indigenous communities across North America at different time periods
Cahokia: the largest city in North America, existing through the 17th century; by 1763 Cahokia was still bigger than Philadelphia, and it was nearly twice the size of Philadelphia at that time
New York later overtook Philadelphia as the largest North American city in the late 18th to early 19th centuries (approx. 1790s to early ext{ }1800s)
Chaco Canyon (Northwestern New Mexico): notable for impressive architectural structures; evidence of substantial trade networks
Cahokia is located in present-day Illinois; Chaco Canyon is in present-day northwestern New Mexico, near areas touching other states (and near regions that border the Grand Canyon)
While Cahokia’s population was larger, Chaco Canyon shows extensive long-distance trade evidenced by artifacts from over 2000 miles away (i.e., travel and exchange with distant Mesoamerican communities)
Seashells found at Chaco Canyon indicate long-range exchange, possibly from southern routes or routes extending west or east toward other coastal communities
The focus for today’s lecture is to highlight traditions, structures, organizations, practices, and beliefs of Indigenous groups across regions as Europeans began arriving in larger numbers
The regional patterns slideshow used today is housed in Canvas under the unit one module and is called something like “regional patterns”; some content overlaps with the History 2610 Week 1 slideshow used in a prior class period
Regions and key groups discussed
Eastern Woodlands and Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee)
The Eastern Woodlands groups are located in the upper Northeast/Northeast quadrant of North America, with dense forests informing housing and economies
Iroquois Confederacy origin: originally five tribes banded together for mutual benefits; later expanded to include a sixth tribe
Governance and social structure
Democratic forms of governance within the Confederacy; chiefs lead diplomacy and military actions
Women have formal roles via the Council of Matrons, a system that can remove a chief if deemed not responsible or effective
Matrilineal and matrilocal norms are common in Iroquoian groups; clan lineage follows the mother’s line, and married couples typically reside in the wife’s clan longhouse
The Council of Matrons exercises significant influence over resource allocation at the clan level and over leadership decisions
Notable tribes within the Iroquois Confederacy: Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca, among others (plus later members including a sixth tribe)
Dwellings and architecture
Longhouses: large, elongated wooden structures housing multiple families; interior spaces used for cooking, storage, sleeping, and clan governance; constructed primarily from wood
Longhouses reflect matrilineal and matrilocal practices; a clan-based living arrangement allows women to maintain residence within the wife’s clan
Economic activities and materials
Three Sisters agriculture (corn/maize, beans, squash) as staple caloric sources; interior space and mats/significance of preserved foods
Use of abundant forest resources for building materials and daily life
Visual representations and the colonial gaze
A discussion of two images: one original watercolor and a later published version
Differences include portrayal of the woman’s activity, her role, and emphasis placed on resources rather than daily labor
The published image often shifts the scene to a background setting, reducing the inside-work depiction; changes in clothing detail and body positioning emphasize European notions of “civilization” vs “savagery”
The concept of the masculine gaze is used to analyze how audiences (often European) might interpret the images; published versions can eroticize or objectify Indigenous women, reducing them to decorative or passive roles rather than active agents
Architecture and material culture in Eastern Woodlands
Longhouses showcased layered construction materials (wood, bark, perhaps wattle-and-daub in some contexts) and complex interior organization
The images help reveal how practice and gender intersect with space and labor
Additional insights from the lecture
The region demonstrates matrilineal and matrilocal tendencies; women influence resource distribution and political decisions via the matron councils
The Iroquois Confederacy provided a model of governance that influenced later political thinking, including some of the structures informing the U.S. Constitution (especially in terms of deliberative, quasi-democratic governance and checks on leadership)
Great Plains and semi-nomadic lifeways
Geography and mobility
The Great Plains extend across a broad area with seasonal variation; communities often relocated in response to hunting conditions and weather patterns
Semi-nomadic lifestyle: relocation is a normal part of subsistence strategy, linked to large game migrations and water sources
Dwellings
Plains dwellings are generally smaller than Eastern Woodlands longhouses; often portable and easier to dismantle for relocation
Common terms for portable shelters include tipis (LTPs) or similar cone-shaped structures; construction aimed to be sturdy yet mobile
The interior/exterior design reflects adaptation to harsh seasons and wind; smoke ventilation is addressed by openings at the top of frames
Social organization and labor
Gendered tasks: women largely handle domestic labor and some provisioning tasks; men often play roles in hunting, defense, and other strategic activities
Age and labor division: younger children may gather firewood or water; older children assist with harvesting and toolmaking; cooperative labor is a hallmark of Plains communities
Material culture and craft traditions
Beadwork and weaving are important craft practices linked to status and trade; high-quality woven goods and beadwork can denote leadership or be used in exchange
Pacific Northwest and the Northwest Coast (Tlingit, Macaw/Makah and neighbors)
Geography and resources
Northern Pacific coast and Washington State regions; abundant marine resources, notably salmon and whale products
Dwellings and architecture
Plank houses: multi-unit, relatively large, more permanent than Plains lodgings; built from local hardwoods and planks; support a clustered community layout
The design reflects a semi-permanent or permanent settlement with communal living spaces
Spirituality and material culture
Totems (spirit-guardian imagery) and carved poles held cultural and spiritual significance; animal symbolism (e.g., salmon, whales) features prominently in spiritual life and art
Economy and subsistence
Fishing and whaling dominate subsistence strategies; salmon is central to diet and seasonal cycles
Whale products, bones, and blubber serve multiple purposes: food, tools, fuel, and medical uses
Gender roles and social organization
Pacific Northwest groups tend to be matrilineal and relatively egalitarian, though not always as politically influential as the Iroquois Confederacy
Visual culture, interpretation, and ethics in representation
The lecture emphasizes critical engagement with visual sources and how Indigenous peoples have been depicted by Euro-American artists and scholars
The two-image comparison (Eastern Woodlands) highlights how published versions can misrepresent labor and life, reinforcing stereotypes about civilization and savagery
The concept of the “masculine gaze” is used to analyze the portrayal of Indigenous women in archival images, showing how power dynamics between viewer and subject shape representation
The Iroquois Confederacy and governance – deeper connections to later political thought
The Confederacy’s governance model was democratic and consultative, influencing later ideas about collective governance in North America
The Council of Matrons demonstrates a formal mechanism for female influence over leadership and resource decisions, highlighting gendered power dynamics that differ from European patriarchal systems
The emphasis on consensus-building and shared authority contrasts with the more centralized monarchies typical of European polities of the same era
The broader regional interactions (Iroquois influence and diplomacy) contribute to a historical context for understanding colonial-era politics and settler colonialism
Creation narratives and Haudenosaunee thought
Haudenosaunee creation story: Skywoman and Turtle Island
Summary of the oral tradition presented in the class video and Padlet activity
Skywoman, pregnant, falls from the sky world through a hole created by an uprooted tree and lands on the back of a giant turtle (Turtle Island)
Ocean water animals and birds cooperate to help her; muskrat retrieves mud from the ocean bottom and places it on Turtle’s back to form land; Skywoman brings with her plants as medicine
Landmass grows, becoming the homeland for Haudenosaunee life
Written continuation and variations
A version includes Skywoman giving birth to twin sons
Oral traditions vary by community and storyteller; muskrat’s role and other animals may appear in different iterations
Student exercise and prompts
In small groups, students compare the video version with the written continuation to explore how beginnings are framed and how human-nature relationships are depicted
Two prompts to discuss in Padlet: (1) What do these stories reveal about attitudes toward the natural world and the human role within it? (2) What do these stories suggest about the status of women in Haudenosaunee society?
Classroom process and engagement
QR code and Padlet used for collaborative responses; students contribute 2–3 sentences per prompt
The instructor notes that these oral traditions demonstrate how communities teach beginnings, roles, and social norms through narrative
Comparative religious and ethical lenses: Europe vs Indigenous North America
European mindset and religion during the 1400s–1600s
Catholicism was dominant for many groups (Spanish, some French) with missionary aims
The Reformation led England to break with Catholicism; the Church of England emerged in some contexts
Dutch settlers brought Protestant ideas; colonial religious cultures varied by nation
The Genesis creation narrative in Judeo-Christian tradition
Creation by God; Adam and Eve as central figures; Eve’s creation from Adam’s rib; Genesis includes the Fall with Eve eating the forbidden fruit
Patriarchal interpretations often linked to later societal structures and gender roles
Counterpoint with Haudenosaunee creation narratives
Skywoman story challenges or provides a different cosmological framework where women can be central agents of creation
The exercise invites reflection on how narrative forms can legitimize or critique social structures, including gender roles
End-of-class logistics and expectations
Independent activity to be completed on Tuesday (date not specified): students will work on an in-class exercise outside of the regular session
Instructor provided multiple resources (including Canvas modules and AI-assisted writing tools) to support continuing study, writing, and exploration of Haudenosaunee stories
Reminder to students: reach out with questions about any of the communities or topics covered in today’s discussion
Key terms and concepts to review
Cahokia – ancient Mississippian city; largest in North America until the rise of New York; population comparisons and historical significance
Chaco Canyon – major trade hub; evidence of long-distance trade (> 2{,}000 miles); coastal and sea-shell artifacts; cross-cultural exchange
Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee) – original 5 tribes; later 6; democratic governance; Council of Matrons; matrilineal/matrilocal social structure; influence on later governance models
Eastern Woodlands dwellings – longhouses; wood construction; multi-family households; gendered labor; farming of the Three Sisters (maize, beans, squash)
Pacific Northwest – salmon and whale economies; plank houses; totems; matrilineal kinship; relative egalitarianism
Great Plains – semi-nomadic; tipis/portable structures; gendered labor; beadwork and weaving as craft and status markers
Creation narratives – Skywoman and Turtle Island; muskrat and other animals; roles of women in Haudenosaunee cosmology; contrast with European Genesis narrative
Visual culture – colonial representation; masculine gaze; depictions of Indigenous people; differences between original and published artwork
The Three G’s (Spanish motivations) – Gold, Glory, God; distinct colonial aims compared to other European powers
The Columbian Exchange – introduction of horses to North America; transformative ecological and cultural impacts
Geographical framing – the map of North America covering East Coast to Pacific Northwest; regional diversity in Indigenous cultures
Formulas and numerical references (LaTeX)
1763 — Cahokia is described as still larger than Philadelphia just before the American Revolution
1790s to early ext{ }1800s — period when New York overtakes Philadelphia as the largest North American city
2{,}000 miles — evidence of long-distance trade artifacts found at Chaco Canyon
5 – the original number of tribes in the Iroquois Confederacy before expansion to 6
6 – the later, additional tribe that joined the Iroquois Confederacy
17^{ ext{th}} century — approximate timeframe for Cahokia’s prominence before the late 1700s
Three ext{ Sisters} — maize (corn), beans, and squash (agricultural staple in Eastern Woodlands)
Connections to broader themes and real-world relevance
Indigenous regional patterns illustrate how geography shapes social organization, economy, and architecture
Comparative governance highlights different pathways to collective decision-making and leadership legitimacy
Creation narratives reveal how societies encode values about gender, nature, and the relationship between humans and the divine or spiritual world
Visual representations demonstrate how colonial contexts influenced interpretations of Indigenous peoples and their cultures
The Haudenosaunee Skywoman narrative provides a counterpoint to Christian creation myths, inviting reflection on diverse epistemologies and the role of women in creation stories
The lecture emphasizes critical engagement with sources, including recognizing biases and stereotypes in historical imagery and texts
Practical implications for understanding the lasting impacts of colonization, trade networks, and intercultural exchange on contemporary Indigenous communities and North American history