Lesson1-Matrilineal Society Flashcards
What is the course structure?
- Pre-Contact Era: Social structures, government structures, values in Indigenous communities BEFORE European settler contact.
- Point of Contact: Changes at point of contact and early tactics of European settlers
- Post-Colonial Era: It is an on-going process, examine ways that Indigenous Peoples have of life moving forward within the constraints of the colonial oppression today.
What does our professor’s Cayuga name mean and what is it?
- Her name is Gahedi:yo (Kae-dee-yo) and it means nice fields/nice gardens
- She was born in June, when the gardens are really nice
- In her community they try to match names to personalities, birth season, or another family member’s name
What does clan mean?
Familial grouping within Indigenous nations that typically are represented by animals or other significant items.
Is Haudenosaunee a matrilineal family line?
Yes
What are the 3 types of animal groupings?
Air: heron, snipe, and hawk
Water: turtle, deer, and beaver
Land: deer, wolf, and bear
Longhouse Family Structure:
-Those outside the longhouse cannot be in the longhouse family because they are of a different clan
-Father does not have decision making authority
-Uncle has more authority over decisions about the dad’s children because he is from that clan and those are that clan’s babies (ex: uncle is wolf clan, dad’s kids are wolf clan babies)
-Longhouses are organized according to clans
What are some basic things to know about Cayuga nation?
-Citizen of Cayuga nation part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy
-“People of the lowlands/swamps”
-Nations are not just names, they represent the connection to the land
-“We are intended to be in this land”
-Part of the land and responsible to take care of it
What do the 6 Nations consist of?
- Cayuga
- Mohawk
- Seneca
- Oneida
- Onondaga
- Tuscarora
What does Turtle Island mean?
North America
Do they only allow English name’s on Certificate of Indian Status Cards?
Yes
Does “Indianness” have an expiry date which must be renewed?
Yes, according to the Government of Canada
In the We are the Haudenosaunee video how many names do the chiefs have?
3 names
- birth name
- English name
- Chief name
What are the core principles in Haudenosaunee Confederacy?
- Peace
- Equity
- Fairness to the people and life
- Power of the good minds
- Ability of the good minds together, relate, and make good decisions
- Human right to be able to identify yourself
Thanksgiving Address Examples:
- People
- Earth
- Plants and Medicines
- Trees
- Food
- Waters
- Animals
- Wind
- Thunders
- Sun
- Moon
- Stars
- Spirit Helpers
A Seneca Greeting- Relationship Requires Us to Be Thankful John Mohawk
-Protocol
-When two or more people meet
-“The words before all else “thanksgiving”
-Used to bring everyone’s minds to the matter
-To help/allow people to understand
-No set way/written form to do it
-It is how you think and feel
-Depends on the speaker
-Mention if there is grief
-Art by John Fadden:
-Sky woman and the creation story
-Things that sustains your life
-Would you go to work if you never got paid?
-If you don’t use (ex) plants, how long would it be until it stopped growing/being needed
-How long would you last at your job?
-Acknowledges spirit helped and creator
-Instructions
-Be good to yourself, others, the earth
