Introduction
The Mohawk tribe of North American Indians, part of the Iroquois League alliance, was chosen as the object of research. The historical homeland of the Mohawks is the Colorado River, considered an oasis in the lifeless desert of North America. These Indians are distinguished by their most pronounced national identity, exceptional manners, nobility, and strength. Having settled in Quebec, they founded the village of Conawaga, where they settled, trying to adapt to the new conditions of life. The Mohawk is the most numerous Iroquois tribe, and it has a unique history and culture.
Origin and History
Little is known about the Mohawks’ life before the European conquerors’ arrival on their lands. Beyond religion, they are Christians and followers of the syncretic cult of the Long House. They speak Mohawk, which corresponds to the tribe’s name, while English is likewise standard.
By the seventeenth century, when the Dutch appeared in Colorado, the Mohawks had a distinctive culture (Stebbins, 2013). The self-name of the people was Ganyengeha, which translates as people of the flint. It can be assumed that such an ethnonym indicates the ancient origin of the tribes and the place of their habitat — near the deposits of minerals.
Cultural Geographic Location
Mohawks are the most numerous people of the Iroquois League, who live in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec and in the U.S. state of New York, on the border with Canada. The Mohawks used dugouts as winter dwellings, but in the summer, they slept under sheds made of twigs (Stebbins, 2013). They are not a nomadic tribe; on the contrary, they are one of the few Indian tribes engaged in agriculture since early times (Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, 2022).
Activities and Social Structure
In the old days, the Mohawks lived not only by raiding neighboring peoples. It is known that they successfully mastered farming, and the main crops grown were legumes, pumpkins, and corn (Stebbins, 2013). Before the first Europeans appeared on American shores, they were already engaged in crafts and trade with neighboring tribes.
The Mohawks had certain principles of communal relations. For example, men never did manual labor. The only exception was building houses, which was beyond the power of women. The care of the tribe and the whole mass of household chores fell on women’s shoulders.
The man’s primary occupation was war, and they did not hesitate to combat neighboring tribes (Stebbins, 2013). The Mohawk scalped the dead, but they did not hurt the captives. The captives were not burdened with overwork, beaten, or hurt. Enslaved people became helpers of the Mohawks in various matters.
Religious Expressions
Mohawk’s beliefs were based on worshipping dreams because they believed that dreams could tell the truth, answer any question, disturb people, and tell about the outcome of the war or planned activities (Stebbins, 2013). Since dreams dominated the Mohawk religion, other rituals were paid less attention.
Significant Events
One of the most significant upheavals in Mohawk’s life was the Oka Crisis, which unfolded in 1990. At that time, residents of the Quebec township of Oka clashed with the Indians. The township communities planned to turn it into a golf course, while the Mohawks believed the site belonged to their ancient cemetery.
Mohawk resistance was suppressed, but after seven years, the Canadian government purchased the disputed piece of land and gave it to the tribe (Stebbins, 2013). Not everyone knows that many American construction companies use Mohawks as their primary workforce. These Indians have a fearlessness and dexterity that have been perfectly preserved in modern times, passed down from their distant ancestors to today’s Mohawks.
Conclusion
Thus, the Mohawk is an Indian belonging to tribes related to the Iroquois. From them, the natives of the coast of Colorado inherited the principles of matriarchy, which are still visible today in remote settlements. The Mohawk tribes live in the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and New York. They are a very talented tribe; therefore, among the Mohawks of today, there are many famous athletes, politicians, and people in creative professions.
References
Stebbins, S. (2013). Native Peoples of North America. Open SUNY.
Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe. (2022). Web.