Learn about the matrilineal structure and the influential roles women play in governance and daily life.
Women in Iroquois society held significant power and influence, a reflection of the matrilineal structure of their clans. This matrilineal system meant that lineage and inheritance were passed down through the mother’s line, which was relatively unique among Native American cultures.
Political Influence
Iroquois women had a decisive role in the governance of their communities. Clan mothers, the eldest women in the clan, had the authority to nominate and depose the male leaders, or sachems, who represented their clans in the Grand Council. These women were highly respected and played a key role in ensuring that the leaders acted in the best interests of the people.
Daily Life and Economy
In daily life, Iroquois women were responsible for agricultural activities, particularly the cultivation of the “Three Sisters” (corn, beans, and squash). They controlled the distribution of food and resources, giving them substantial economic power. The longhouse, the traditional dwelling of the Iroquois, was also managed by women, with family lineage traced through the female line.
Iroquois women were essential to the social and political fabric of their society, ensuring the well-being and continuity of their communities through their leadership and management of resources.
