| Based in what are now our Northeastern states, | | | | the basis for the Seneca nation's success in crop |
| much history surrounds the famed Iroquois | | | | productivity. Corn, beans, and squash are believed |
| League. Ultimately containing six tribes, they | | | | to be treasured gifts from the Great Spirit. |
| figured most prominently in building a foundation | | | | Legend in the tribe transformed the way crops |
| for the modern government today. They | | | | were raised in the Seneca culture. Corn, beans, |
| structured an outline that would become, basically, | | | | and squash were said to thrive and grow best |
| the framework for the United States Constitution. | | | | when they were planted together. Planting the |
| | | | crops in this manner, together in the same |
| 1. They Were the Largest of the Five Tribes of | | | | mounds, was the first and most natural way of |
| the Iroquois League. The Seneca was the largest | | | | assuring the soil would remain fertile over the long |
| of the original five tribes that composed the | | | | term. This was environmental stewardship to the |
| Iroquois League (originally known as the Five | | | | earth in its early beginnings. These crops were |
| Nations). The five tribes included the Seneca, the | | | | also the best sources of nutrition to promote a |
| Cayuga, the Onondaga, the Oneida, and the | | | | healthy diet. Growing these three crops in this |
| Mohawk. The Iroquois League, or Iroquois | | | | manner also made the most efficient use of the |
| Confederacy, would later become known as the | | | | land in food production. The Three Sisters legend |
| Six Nations as another tribe, the Tuscarora, joined | | | | stated that corn needed to be grown with the |
| the alliance. | | | | benefit and companionship of having the other |
| 2. They Were Fierce Warriors and Weaponry | | | | crops beside it, each one nourishing the growth of |
| Experts. The Seneca Indians were known for | | | | the other. The legend of the Three Sisters was |
| their skill at weaponry and their practice of being | | | | just one of their traditional beliefs that contributed |
| fierce warriors. They were a ferocious enemy to | | | | to the success of the tribe. |
| any other tribe who had any ideas of dominating | | | | 5. Culture and Religious Beliefs Build a Foundation |
| them. Members of the Seneca tribe were given | | | | for the Supernatural. The Seneca, as many Native |
| guns by Dutch colonists, and they learned how to | | | | American Indian cultures, believe in the dreams, |
| use them well. Their Mohawk hair styles put one | | | | customs, and traditions of their ancestors. The |
| immediately on the alert as to the dangerous | | | | earth is at the center of their daily existence, and |
| potential that was lurking behind those menacing | | | | the waters that flow in the rivers are their lifeline. |
| eyes and tattooed skin. They had a reputation for | | | | A sense of community is foremost in their minds |
| torturing any prisoners taken and even | | | | and taking care of each other is of prime |
| participating in cannibalism for the sake of ritual | | | | importance. At one point, after many wars and |
| rites. | | | | battles, the people became downtrodden. |
| 3. Red Jacket was a great and memorable leader. | | | | Handsome Lake was a Seneca religious leader |
| Red Jacket was an eloquent speaker for the | | | | who had a significant impact on the Iroquois |
| Seneca nation and served as the official | | | | people. Handsome Lake's struggles with illness and |
| spokesman for the Iroquois League. He fought | | | | alcoholism led him to tout the importance of |
| with the British and against the Americans in the | | | | reviving traditional Native American customs and |
| American Revolutionary War, and one of the | | | | practices. He claimed to have received wisdom |
| British troops gave him a "red jacket," hence the | | | | and guidance from three visions he had. |
| nickname with which he was bestowed. Red | | | | The visions and prophecies of Handsome Lake |
| Jacket was a staunch supporter of keeping the | | | | eventually led the Seneca nation's peoples from |
| Seneca heritage alive and vehemently opposing | | | | despair to which they had turned in the waning |
| integration with white people and/or Christian | | | | years of their culture, to one of new possibilities |
| beliefs brought by missionaries. That said, though, | | | | and hope. Many believe these visions were |
| his goal was to live in peace with the white man. | | | | supernatural. |
| 4. The "Three Sisters" agricultural concept was | | | | |