Their Government
Both the Algonquian and Iroquois Indians lived in
small villages, or
clans
. Each clan was named to
represent an animal, such as a turkey, wolf, or turtle.
These animals were thought to be ancestors and
protectors of the clan.
Women held a great deal of power among the
Native American tribes living in Pennsylvania. For the
Algonquians, a
council
of men was appointed to run
each clan. The older women of the clan chose each
member of the council. If they made a bad choice,
they also had the power to remove a council
member. Women were also consulted inmatters of
war, tribal disputes, and food distribution.
The Algonquians weremore independent, but less
organized politically than the Iroquois. Several clans
made up a tribe of Indians. For the Algonquians, each
tribe had a chief and several council members. The
chief’smain roles were to lead the tribe in battle, in
hunting, and in settling disagreements.
The Iroquois had a different political
organization. Originally five feuding tribes, they
formed a league of tribes to keep from fighting each
other. This league was called the
Iroquois
Confederacy
. Selected by the women, the chiefs
fromeach tribe sat on a
tribal council
. Themain role
of the council was to keep peace among the tribes.
One person was usually chosen from the council to
be head chief. The head chief had to get the
agreement of other chiefs beforemaking any
important decisions.
Their Environment
The Native Americans of
Pennsylvania had the same
kinds of needs that all humans
have. That is, they needed air,
food, water, clothing, and
shelter. Tomeet their basic
needs, they used their
environment very wisely.
Because they lived in or near
the forests, both the Iroquois
and the Algonquians were
known as theWoodland
Indians. The forests provided
the springs of unpolluted water
to drink and the animals that
supplied their food and skins
for their clothing.
Shawnees
Eries
Susquehannocks
Nanticokes
Delawares
Iroqouis
Iroqouis
Algonquian Tribes
Iroquois Tribes
Themap above shows where different Algonquian and
Iroquois tribes were located in Pennsylvania.
There were several differences
between the Algonquian and
Iroquois forms of government.
But both groups used a council
system tomake important
decisions. And both had
councils made up of men from
the tribe who were chosen by
the women of the tribe.
Native American Inhabitants of Pennsylvania
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