LEADERSHIP
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The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people used Consensus as a source of decision making process. Consensus is a general agreement between a group of people. They used this method because they found it very effective and fair because everyone was required to participate despite their gender or age. In order for a consensus to work people had to be open-minded and willing to think deeply about issues and about other peoples ideas and suggestions. The decision making process worked in a 4 step manner:
Step 1: Clan meeting was held; men, women, children and elders were given a chance to speak
Step 2: Clan mothers informed their chief what decision was made through consensus
Step 3: Clan chief carried the decision to the Council of the Chiefs of the nation
Step 4: The Council of the Chiefs of the nation brought the decision to the Grand Council
The Great Council met to discuss issues that affected the whole Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) nation such as peace treaties, trade agreements, and decisions to go to war. The issues were debated and discussed until everyone agreed on a course of action. The decisions in the great council were made in a three step processes:
First Step: The Older Brothers; Seneca and Mohawk reach consensus
Second Step: The Younger Brothers; Cayuga and Oneida reach consensus
Third Step: The Keepers Of Fire; Onondaga gives a judgement
If during this process any clan disagrees with something the process starts all over again. This precess continues three times before the idea or issue was set aside.
Step 1: Clan meeting was held; men, women, children and elders were given a chance to speak
Step 2: Clan mothers informed their chief what decision was made through consensus
Step 3: Clan chief carried the decision to the Council of the Chiefs of the nation
Step 4: The Council of the Chiefs of the nation brought the decision to the Grand Council
The Great Council met to discuss issues that affected the whole Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) nation such as peace treaties, trade agreements, and decisions to go to war. The issues were debated and discussed until everyone agreed on a course of action. The decisions in the great council were made in a three step processes:
First Step: The Older Brothers; Seneca and Mohawk reach consensus
Second Step: The Younger Brothers; Cayuga and Oneida reach consensus
Third Step: The Keepers Of Fire; Onondaga gives a judgement
If during this process any clan disagrees with something the process starts all over again. This precess continues three times before the idea or issue was set aside.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Following were the roles of people in the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Society:
Clan Mothers: The lakoiane or clan mother have the responsibility to look out for the clan by overseeing the actions of the chief which the clan mother choses herself. The clan mothers also ensure that he is performing his duties according with The Great Law of Peace. The clan mothers held the positions of respect and owned property and homes.
Women: The Women had a lot of power and were very respected in Iroquois society. The women had many rights; They could own property and were allowed to divorce their husbands. The women also contribute to important political decisions. Women provided the main source of food, through farming. Corn, Beans and Squash (The Three Sisters) were the staples of the the diet.
Chief: The sachems or chiefs were the leaders in the society. Chiefs were teachers and spiritual guides to remind them to live forever in peace. The chiefs were treated with respect because of their wisdom special qualities: honesty and kind-heartless, ability to think clearly, knowledge of traditional ceremonies, loyalty to family, ability to uphold The Great Law of Peace and to represent their people fairly and withstand criticism.
Men: Men served as chiefs on the Grand council. All responsibilities of governing governing are handled by a Great council of 50 sachems from different chiefs from different nations. The men declared war, made peace, negotiated treaties, ran the conquered tribes and organized the observance of religious festivals. The men lived with their wives in a longhouse after their marriage.
Children: Iroquois children typically did not have a formal education, but were thought alongside of their mothers (girls) and father/uncles (boys). Children were thought to be strong and brave, to never complain, to walk quietly and always be obedient. Elders often gave formal instructions on religion to their children. Children were thought through oral stories. When a child was misbehaving, they were told a story with the moral they needed to hear.
Clan Mothers: The lakoiane or clan mother have the responsibility to look out for the clan by overseeing the actions of the chief which the clan mother choses herself. The clan mothers also ensure that he is performing his duties according with The Great Law of Peace. The clan mothers held the positions of respect and owned property and homes.
Women: The Women had a lot of power and were very respected in Iroquois society. The women had many rights; They could own property and were allowed to divorce their husbands. The women also contribute to important political decisions. Women provided the main source of food, through farming. Corn, Beans and Squash (The Three Sisters) were the staples of the the diet.
Chief: The sachems or chiefs were the leaders in the society. Chiefs were teachers and spiritual guides to remind them to live forever in peace. The chiefs were treated with respect because of their wisdom special qualities: honesty and kind-heartless, ability to think clearly, knowledge of traditional ceremonies, loyalty to family, ability to uphold The Great Law of Peace and to represent their people fairly and withstand criticism.
Men: Men served as chiefs on the Grand council. All responsibilities of governing governing are handled by a Great council of 50 sachems from different chiefs from different nations. The men declared war, made peace, negotiated treaties, ran the conquered tribes and organized the observance of religious festivals. The men lived with their wives in a longhouse after their marriage.
Children: Iroquois children typically did not have a formal education, but were thought alongside of their mothers (girls) and father/uncles (boys). Children were thought to be strong and brave, to never complain, to walk quietly and always be obedient. Elders often gave formal instructions on religion to their children. Children were thought through oral stories. When a child was misbehaving, they were told a story with the moral they needed to hear.
BY: SEHRA JAFFERY