Mohawk people facts for kids
| Kanienʼkehá꞉ka | |
|---|---|
A painting of Joseph Brant, a famous Mohawk leader, from 1786.
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| Total population | |
| 45,317 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Canada (Quebec, Ontario) | 39,685 |
| United States (New York) | 5,632 |
| Languages | |
| English, Mohawk, French, ASL, LSQ, Formerly: Dutch, Mohawk Dutch, Hand Talk |
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| Religion | |
| Karihwiio, Kanohʼhonʼio, Kahniʼkwiʼio, Christianity, Longhouse, Handsome Lake, Other Indigenous Religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Seneca Nation of New York, Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Cayuga Nation of New York, Onondaga Nation, Tuscarora Nation, all members of the Iroquois Confederacy; and other Iroquoian peoples | |
| kanien "flint" |
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|---|---|
| People | Kanienʼkehá:ka |
| Language | Kanienʼkéha |
| Country | Kanièn:ke Haudenosauneega |
The Mohawk people are also known as Kanien'kehá:ka, which means "People of the Flint." They are an Indigenous group from North America. The Mohawk are the easternmost nation of the Haudenosaunee, also called the Iroquois Confederacy. This confederacy was first known as the Five Nations and later as the Six Nations.
Mohawk people speak an Iroquoian language. Their communities are found in southeastern Canada and northern New York State. These areas are mainly around Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. As one of the original five members of the Iroquois Confederacy, the Mohawk were known as the "Keepers of the Eastern Door." This meant they protected the confederacy from attacks from the east.
Today, Mohawk people belong to several groups. These include the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte First Nation, Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke, Mohawks of Kanesatake, and Six Nations of the Grand River in Canada. In the United States, there is the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe. Its members share history with Akwesasne.
When Europeans first arrived, the Mohawk lived in the Mohawk River valley in what is now upstate New York. This was west of the Hudson River. Their lands stretched north to the St. Lawrence River, and into parts of southern Quebec and eastern Ontario. To the south, their territory reached into New Jersey and Pennsylvania. To the east, it went to the Green Mountains of Vermont. To the west, it bordered the lands of the Oneida Nation.
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Mohawk Communities Today
Today, Mohawk people live in self-governing communities. These are located in northern New York State and southeastern Canada.
Many Mohawk communities have two types of leaders. One group consists of traditional hereditary chiefs (royaner). These leaders are chosen by Clan Mothers. Other communities have governments with elected chiefs and councilors. The Canadian and U.S. governments often work with the elected leaders.
Here are some of the self-governing Mohawk communities:
- Northern New York:
- Kanièn:ke (Ganienkeh) "Place of the flint". This community follows traditional governance.
- Kanaʼtsioharè:ke "Place of the washed pail". This community also follows traditional governance.
- Along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada:
- Ahkwesáhsne (St. Regis, New York and Quebec/Ontario, Canada) "Where the partridge drums". This community has both traditional governance and elections.
- Kahnawà:ke (south of Montréal) "On the rapids". This community has both traditional governance and elections.
- Kanehsatà:ke (Oka) "Where the snow crust is". This community has both traditional governance and elections.
- Tioweró:ton (Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides, Quebec). This community shares governance between Kahnawà꞉ke and Kanehsatà꞉ke.
- Southern Ontario, Canada:
- Kenhtè꞉ke (Tyendinaga) "On the bay". This community has both traditional governance and elections.
- Wáhta (Gibson) "Maple tree". This community has both traditional governance and elections.
- Ohswé꞉ken "Six Nations of the Grand River". This community has both traditional governance and elections. The Mohawk form the majority of the population here.
Mohawk Language
The Mohawk language, or Kanyen'kéha, is a Northern Iroquoian language. Like many other Indigenous languages of the Americas, Mohawk is a polysynthetic language. This means words can be very long and carry a lot of meaning. Its writing system uses the Roman alphabet. The spelling was standardized in 1993.
The Name Mohawk
In their own language, the Mohawk people call themselves the Kanienʼkehá꞉ka. This means "people of the flint." The Mohawk became skilled traders. Other nations in their confederacy needed their flint for making tools. Their neighbors, the Mohicans, called them Maw Unk Lin, meaning "bear people." The Dutch heard this term and wrote it as Mohawk.
French colonists later used similar names. They also called the people "Iroquois." This was a French version of an Algonquian term for the Five Nations, meaning "Big Snakes." The Algonquians and Iroquois were often rivals.
Mohawk History
Early Contact with Europeans
The Mohawk lived in the upper Hudson and Mohawk Valley regions. They had long-standing contact with the Mohican people. They also interacted with other Indigenous groups around the Great Lakes. The Mohawk had expanded their influence into the St. Lawrence River Valley. They used these lands for hunting.
The Mohawk likely defeated the St. Lawrence Iroquoians in the 1500s. They kept control of this territory. For centuries, the Mohawk grew corn on the fertile lands along the Mohawk River.
In 1609, Samuel De Champlain and his crew met some Mohawks near Fort Ticonderoga. This was the first time the Mohawks encountered Europeans. A conflict began, and the Mohawks were surprised by the Europeans' new weapons. This event also led to the Beaver Wars.
The Beaver Wars
In the 1600s, the Mohawk met both the Dutch and the French. The Dutch set up a trading post on the Hudson River in 1614. The French came south from New France (now Quebec). Both groups were interested in the fur trade. During this time, the Mohawk fought with the Huron in the Beaver Wars. They competed for control of the fur trade with the Europeans.
In 1614, the Dutch opened a trading post at Fort Nassau. They first traded furs with the local Mohican people. In 1628, the Mohawks attacked the Mohican. They pushed them back to the area of present-day Connecticut. The Mohawks then gained a strong position in the fur trade with the Dutch.
European contact brought new diseases. A devastating smallpox epidemic affected the Mohawk in 1635. Their population was greatly reduced because they had no natural protection against the disease. By 1642, they had regrouped into three main villages.
The Mohawk and Dutch became allies through trading. The Dutch also provided the Mohawk with guns. These were used to fight against other Indigenous groups allied with the French. In 1645, the Mohawk made peace with the French for a time.
In 1666, the French attacked the Mohawk in New York. They burned three Mohawk villages and their food supplies. As part of the peace agreement, the Mohawk agreed to accept Jesuit missionaries. Some converted Mohawks later moved to Jesuit mission villages. These were established near Montreal on the St. Lawrence River. These villages included Kahnawake and Kanesatake. In the 1740s, another village called Akwesasne was founded.
Kateri Tekakwitha, born in the 1650s, became a famous Mohawk convert to Catholicism. She moved to Caughnawaga after her parents passed away. She was known for her strong faith. A shrine was built for her in New York. In 2012, she became the first Native American Catholic saint.
After the English took over New Netherland in 1664, the Mohawk traded with them. They sometimes acted as allies. During King Philip's War, the Mohawk attacked a group of Wampanoag warriors.
From the 1690s, Protestant missionaries also worked to convert the Mohawk. Many were given English names. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Mohawk and Abenaki were involved in conflicts between the French and English.
During the French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years' War), the Mohawk partnered with the British. Leaders like Sir William Johnson and Hendrick Theyanoguin helped maintain this alliance.
American Revolutionary War
Most Mohawks in New York lived along the Mohawk River. They had two main settlements: the Upper Castle and the Lower Castle. Sir William Johnson was the British Superintendent of Indian Affairs. He built his home near the Mohawk River.
The Mohawk were among the four Iroquois nations that allied with the British during the American Revolutionary War. They had a long trading history with the British. They hoped the British would help stop colonists from moving onto their lands. Joseph Brant was a war chief who led successful raids against colonists in the Mohawk Valley.
Some Mohawks, like Little Abraham, remained neutral. Joseph Louis Cook allied with the Americans. He led Oneida warriors against the British.
After the American victory, the British gave up their land claims. The Americans then required their Mohawk allies to give up their territories in New York. Most Mohawks moved to Canada. The British Crown gave them new land there.
After the Revolution
Joseph Brant led a large group of Iroquois to what became the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve in Ontario. This land stretched along the Grand River. Another Mohawk war chief, John Deseronto, led a group to the Bay of Quinte. Other Mohawks settled near Montreal. They joined communities like Kahnawake, Kanesatake, and Akwesasne.
In 1794, Mohawk representatives signed the Treaty of Canandaigua with the United States. This treaty allowed them to own land in the U.S. The Mohawks also fought as allies of the British in the War of 1812.
20th Century to Present
In 1971, the Mohawk Warrior Society (Rotisken’rakéhte) was founded in Kahnawake. This group works to protect Mohawk rights and lands. They use actions like roadblocks and occupations. Notable actions include the Oka Crisis blockades in 1990. They also occupied a construction site in Caledonia, Ontario, in 2006.
In 1974, Mohawks from Kahnawake and Akwesasne reclaimed traditional land in New York. After discussions, the state offered them land in Miner Lake, where they settled.
Mohawks have worked for greater self-governance in Canada. They seek more authority over their people and lands. In 1993, a group of Akwesasne Mohawks bought land in New York. They named it Kanatsiohareke, marking a return to their ancestral lands.
Mohawk Ironworkers in New York
Mohawks from Kahnawake and other reserves worked in construction in New York City. This happened from the early to mid-20th century. They were skilled ironworkers who helped build bridges and skyscrapers. They were sometimes called "skywalkers" because they seemed fearless at great heights. They worked on projects like the Empire State Building.
Construction companies found that Mohawk ironworkers were not afraid of heights. Their contracts sometimes offered lower wages. About 10% of all ironworkers in the New York area are Mohawks today.
The lives of Mohawk ironworkers were shown in the 1965 documentary High Steel. A community of Mohawk families formed in Brooklyn, called "Little Caughnawaga." This community was active from the 1920s to the 1960s. Families would return to Kahnawake for the summer.
Mohawks have also formed their own construction companies. Mohawk ironworkers helped build the original World Trade Center towers. After the September 11 attacks, they helped rescue people. They also helped dismantle the remains of the buildings. About 200 Mohawk ironworkers helped rebuild the One World Trade Center. They often travel from Kahnawake to work in Manhattan during the week.
Mohawk Culture
Social Organization
The main way Mohawk society is organized is through clans (ken'tara'okòn:'a). The Mohawk have three clans: Bear (Ohkwa:ri), Turtle (A'nó:wara), and Wolf (Okwaho). Clans are traced through the mother's family line. Women hold important leadership roles within the clans. All members of the same clan, across all Six Nations, are considered relatives. Traditionally, people from the same clan cannot marry each other. Children belong to their mother's clan.
Religion
Traditional Mohawk religion is mostly Animist. This means they believe that spirits exist in nature, animals, and objects. Much of their religion focuses on the balance between good and evil. Many Mohawks continue to follow the Longhouse Religion.
In 1632, a group of Jesuit missionaries arrived in Mohawk territory. They tried to teach the Mohawks about Catholicism. Later, Kateri Tekakwitha, the daughter of a Mohawk chief and a Catholic Algonquin woman, was born. She became a Catholic saint.
Traditional Attire
Historically, Mohawk men often removed most of their hair. They left a smaller section that was styled in different ways. Women wore their hair long, often in a single braid.
In traditional dress, women sometimes wore a deerskin skirt in summer. In colder weather, they wore a deerskin dress. Men wore a breech cloth of deerskin in summer. In cooler weather, they added deerskin leggings and a shirt. Both men and women wore moccasins. They also wore jewelry made of shells and porcupine quills, like Wampum belts. Men sometimes wore headwear made of animal fur with quills and feathers.
Marriage Customs
The Mohawk Nation has a matrilineal kinship system. This means that family lines and inheritance pass through the mother. Today, marriage ceremonies can follow old traditions or include newer elements. Many Mohawk couples still use the traditional Longhouse ceremony. Some couples choose to have both a European-style wedding and a Longhouse ceremony.
Longhouses
Replicas of 17th-century longhouses have been built at historical sites. Examples include Kanata Village and Akwesasne's "Tsiionhiakwatha" village. Other Mohawk Nation Longhouses are used for traditional ceremonies and teachings. These include the Longhouse Religion (or "Code of Handsome Lake").
Some communities with ceremonial Mohawk Community Longhouses include:
- Ohswé꞉ken (Six Nations) First Nation Territory, Ontario (six Longhouses).
- Wáhta First Nation Territory, Ontario (one Longhouse).
- Kenhtè꞉ke (Tyendinaga) First Nation Territory, Ontario (one Longhouse).
- Ahkwesásne First Nation Territory (two Longhouses).
- Kaʼnehsatà꞉ke First Nation Territory, Quebec (one Longhouse).
- Kahnawà꞉ke First Nation Territory, Quebec (three Longhouses).
- Kanièn:ke First Nation Territory, New York State (one Longhouse).
- Kanaʼtsioharà꞉ke First Nation Territory, New York State (one Longhouse).
Notable Historical Mohawk People
These are important historical Mohawk individuals. For contemporary people, please see their specific First Nation or tribe.
- Joseph Brant or Thayendanegea (1743–1771), a Mohawk leader and British officer.
- Molly Brant or Degonwadonti (c. 1736 – 1796), a Mohawk leader and sister of Joseph Brant.
- Canaqueese (17th century), a Mohawk war chief and diplomat.
- John Deseronto (c. 1745 – 1811), a Tyendinaga Mohawk chief.
- Hiawatha (c. 12th century), a precontact Mohawk chief and cofounder of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
- Karonghyontye or Captain David Hill (1745–1790), a Mohawk leader during the American Revolutionary War.
- E. Pauline Johnson or Tekahionwake (1861–1913), a poet, author, and public speaker.
- George Henry Martin Johnson or Onwanonsyshon (1816–1884), a Mohawk chief and interpreter.
- John Norton or Teyoninhokarawen (c. 1770 – c. 1827), adopted into the Mohawk First Nation.
- Oronhyatekha (1841–1907), a physician and scholar.
- Ots-Toch (1600 – c. 1640), wife of Dutch colonist Cornelius A. Van Slyck.
- Hendrick Tejonihokarawa (c. 1660 – c. 1735), a Mohawk chief of the Wolf clan.
- St. Kateri Tekakwitha (Mohawk/Algonquin, 1656–1680), known as "Lily of the Mohawks" and a Roman Catholic saint.
- Black Hawk, a lacrosse player.
See also
In Spanish: Nación Mohawk para niños
