archaeological and textual records - eCommons@Cornell - Cornell ...

people. In their own language, the Seneca call themselves the “Onöndowága,” which
literally means “people of the great hill” (Richter 1992:1). The Seneca, as well as the
other members of the Confederacy, refer to themselves as belonging to the
Haudenosaunee, or “people of the longhouse” (Richter 1992:1).
Far from being merely a dwelling, the longhouse itself symbolizes a deep
regard for community and family, which some scholars (Richter 1992:19) have
suggested stems from the depths of Iroquoian cosmogony. In each longhouse, several
families lived communally. Iroquoian clans are named after different animals, and to
this day, one’s clan affiliation is handed down through the mother’s line (e.g.
matrilineal kinship). Thus, although their husbands would be from different clans, all
the women residing in one longhouse may actually hail from the same clan. Among
the Senecas, Onondagas and Cayugas, clan groups are further divided into moieties
with specific ritual obligations to one another. Overall, the notion of reciprocity was a
cardinal virtue of “longhouse society” (Richter 1992:21).
One of the best examples of reciprocity and ritual comes to us from the
account of the General Assembly by Fr. Francois Le Mercier:
We follow the location of the places in the order of the Chapters; for after the
Nation of [the Mohawk] and that of [Oneida], proceeding in a Southwesterly
direction, we reach [Onondaga], -- a large Village, and the center of all the
Iroquois Nations, -- where every year the States-general, so to speak, is held, to
settle the differences that may have arisen among them in the course of the
year. Their Policy in this is very wise, and has nothing Barbarous in it. For,
since their preservation depends upon their union, and since it is hardly
possible that among peoples where license reigns with all impunity -- and,
above all, among young people -- there should not happen some event capable
of causing a rupture, and disuniting their minds, -- for these reasons, they hold
every year a general assembly in Onnontaé [Onondaga]. There all the deputies
from the different Nations are present, to make their complaints and receive the
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