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Originally, the Cayuga people resided in present day New York state. Today, many Cayugas still live in NY. However, some Cayugas were forced to migrate to Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada.

The Cayuga people had a representative democracy. The Cayuga tribe was one of the original members of the Iroquois Confederacy.

The Cayuga nation had a tribal council chosen by the Cayuga clan mothers (matriarchs, or female leaders.) But the Cayugas were also followed the decisions made by the Iroquois Great Council.

Ten Cayuga chiefs represented their tribe's interests in the Iroquois Council.

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History

17th Century: Involved in Iroquois wars
Allied with the British during the American Revolution.
Ottrowana (Cayuga chief) gave the British useful information.
In retaliation, the American army burned the Cayuga villages
Given land from the British in exchange for their loyalty.
Signed the Treaty of Canandaigua with the U.S. in 1794.
The Cayuga Indians lost their land in the 1700's, today they do not have a reservation for themselves. In New York State, the Cayuga tribe lives with the Senecas and Onondagas, but they still have their own council of clan chiefs. In Canada, Cayuga Indians share the Six Nations Reserve with members of the other Iroquois nations. There are also Cayuga people living on mixed reservations in Oklahoma and Wisconsin and in smaller communities in New York.

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Geography

Many Cayuga people still live there today. However, some were forced to migrate into Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Ontario, Canada.

They lived in, what is now present day New York.

The Cayugas lived along the northern shore of the St. Lawrence river, near the finger lakes.

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Culture

Cayuga is an Iroquoian language
1 to 2 hundred Cayuga people still speak the language today

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Cayuga Friendship Dance

Cayuga members showed students the friendship dance.

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Culture

Religion

According to Cayuga tradition, a supreme creator by the name of Orenda was recognized in the festivals. These festivals were held for events such as harvests of food sources such as- maple sap, strawberries, and corn. An eight-day event in midwinter was held to forgive past wrongdoings/sins.

Early 19th century- the teachings of Handsome Lake became popular among Cayuga. Handsome Lake was a Seneca who taught about Jesus, and blended the traditional celebrations with Christian-style confessions of sin. Following typical Christian guidelines, he urged Native Americans to stay away from alcohol. His teachings eventually were incorporated into the Longhouse religion, which continues to have followers today.

Traditions

Carried children in cradleboard

Hunting: use of bows & arrows

Fishing: use of bone hooks

Hair: woman only cut hair when in mourning

Transportation: use of elm-bark canoes

Weapons of War: bows & arrows, heavy clubs, & shields

Wampum belts: representative of person’s family story

Flutes: used to woo woman, Cayuga man play flute outside “girlfriend’s” house to let her know he was thinking of her.

Stories: legends & fairy tales

Example: Creation Story

http://dept.cs.williams.edu/~lindsey/myths/myths_12.html

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Culture-Customs

They have a Matriarchal society
There are 5 clan mothers

Clans are passed down from the mother

5 clans: Turtle, Bear, Wolf, Heron, and Snipe

Power to impeach a chief if he does not do his job well
In charge of raising the new chief for her clan when the old one is removed or dies.

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Culture-games, sports, dances, music & toys

Music: flute & drums two most important instruments

Mask Carving: renowned for their skills, made of porcupine quills, beads, & woods.

Toys: cornhusk dolls

Dances: Standing Quiver Dance, The Moccasin Dance, various social/earth dances

more info here

Sports: lacrosse, hunting, throwing a dart through moving hoop

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Typical Tribal Music

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Clothing

Cayuga men wore breech-cloth and leggings. Women wore wrap around skirts and shorter leggings. Men did not wear shirts.
Native American men often wore leggings to protect their legs
Legging styles varied from tribe to tribe. Sometimes they were fringed, sometimes they were painted or decorated with beadwork.
A breechcloth apron is the decorated piece of leather or cloth that men wore over their breechclout for special occasions.
Cayuga Indian people usually wore deerskin moccasins on their feet.

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Hair

The Cayuga headdress has one eagle feather trailing behind. Women sometimes wore beaded tiaras. In times of war, Cayuga men often shaved their heads except for a a crest down the center of their head

Cayuga Indian women only cut their hair when they were in mourning. Otherwise they wore it long and loose or plaited into a long braid

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Food

The Cayuga tribe were farmers.

Cayuga women planted crops of corn, beans, and squash and harvested wild berries and herbs.

Cayuga men hunted deer and elk and fished in the rivers and on the shores of Lake Ontario.

Some recipes included cornbread, soups, and stews, which they cooked on stone hearths.

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Habitat

Originally lived in marshy lands: Hence their name “People of the Great Swamps”.

Lived in Longhouses

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Famous People

Orehaoue

A Cayuga chief who helped the english prevent the purchase of Susquehanna's land. He was captured and sent to France.

Chief Logan (1725-1780) - helped spark Dunmore’s War “Logan’s Lament”

Chief Peter Wilson -”They hear his voice” worked as interpreter for U.S. government

Dekanawida- the great peacemaker, founder of Iroquois Confederacy

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Famous People

← Logan---- Dekanaweda Confed. →

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Resources

Use APA format for websites, images, article

Kanatiiosh. (2001, September). Gayogoho:no (The People of the Great Swamp). Retrieved from http://www.peace4turtleisland.org/pages/Cayuga.htm

Native Languages of The Americas. (1998-2013). Retrieved from http://www.native-languages.org/york.htm

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Test Knowledge of your Group

Use JogNog or Quizlet or g-Form survey to test your group members’ knowledge to see how well you taught.

https://docs.google.com/a/my.msmc.edu/forms/d/1uSTUra3ef3PuSEgzr-Ib5cl9cTyzpLJbYW1OaxF9xmg/edit