The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee or "People of the Longhouse," was a powerful alliance of six Indigenous nations in the northeastern United States: the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora. Among them, the Seneca were known as the "Keepers of the Western Door," playing a key role in protecting the Confederacy’s western borders. The Susquehannock and Massawomeck were also significant Iroquoian-speaking tribes in the region, often engaged in trade and conflict along the Susquehanna River and nearby areas.
Notable figures such as Chief Cornplanter of the Seneca and Red Jacket, a leader and orator of the Seneca Nation, played important roles in diplomatic relations and resistance to colonial encroachment. The Iroquois Confederacy’s sophisticated system of governance and its enduring influence on democratic principles have shaped both Indigenous and American political history. Explore this collection to learn more about the Iroquois’ legacy, culture, and notable leaders.
Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy:
Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora
During the colonial period, the Seneca were involved in trade (particularly fur) with the Dutch and the British. However, the Massawomeck, which was a powerful warring tribe, controlled the flow of European trade goods to interior lands, acting like a curtain that blocked off most trading on the eastern part of what is now the United States.
In 1606, the Seneca tribe attacked the Massawomeck, leaving the latter suffering severe setbacks. The surviving Massawomecks merged into a Susquehanna tribe known as "The Black Miniqua," which the Seneca would later attack and assimilate its survivors into their tribe. Thus, making the Massawomeck and Susquehanna now part of the Seneca Nation.