- Definition
The Haudenosaunee are a group of Indigenous nations, like the Mohawk and Seneca, who have joined together under a shared government and a set of guiding principles called the Great Law of Peace. They are often called "people of the longhouse" because of their traditional homes.
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy is made up of six sovereign nations: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: The Haudenosaunee are like a big family with different branches living together in one very long house, where everyone agrees to follow the same family rules.
Ask your child: Imagine your whole class lived in one long house. What rules would you need?
Common mix-up: Kids may hear the name 'Iroquois,' which was a name given by others. The people call themselves Haudenosaunee, which means 'people of the longhouse'.
Examples
- The traditional Haudenosaunee longhouse was a large home where multiple families of the same clan lived together.
- The Haudenosaunee nations are united by a constitution called the Great Law of Peace.
Haudenosaunee is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
