Long ago before there were big cities,

the eastern part of the United States

was covered with forests. The Iroquois
lived in the northern areas of the East.
We now know that area as New York.
Originally, there were five separate
Iroquois tribes. Eventually, the tribes
joined forces and became a single
Iroquois nation.
The Iroquois lived in either wigwams
or longhouses. Trees with narrow
trunks were bent into a rounded shape
to make wigwams. They were then
covered with large pieces of tree
bark. The pieces of tree bark were
overlapped in order to keep out the
rain and snow. Then dried grasses were
placed on top of the layer of bark to
insulate the wigwam.
of the
NATIVE AMERICANS NATIVE AMERICANS
Eastern Woodlands Eastern Woodlands
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on which people slept. Deer were
plentiful in that part of the country,
so beds were covered with deerskin.
The Iroquois
hunted with bows
and arrows made
from what they
could find in the
forests. They fished
in canoes made
of hollowed-out trees. The Iroquois
ate fruits, nuts, and berries in addition
to the meat and fish they hunted and
caught. They also cleared some of
the forest and grew corn, squash, and
beans. In the winter, maple syrup was
tapped from the trees and made into
sugar. Deerskin clothing kept everyone
warm. The Iroquois truly did live off
the land.
A hole was cut out at the very
top of the wigwam. When a fire was
built inside the wigwam to keep the
family warm, the smoke could escape.
Longhouses were also made
from trees and grasses. They were
rectangular rather than round and
made to house several families. A single
opening at the front of the house could
be closed against enemies.
Inside the longhouse were several
rooms. Each room included platforms
DID YOU
KNOW?
In many Native
American cultures,
beans, corn, and
squash are known as
The Three Sisters.
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