CULTURE
LANGUAGE
Our Native language is Cayuga. However, because many members of the Cayuga Nation have integrated and are living among the Senecas, many of us are also familiar with the Seneca language.
Our Native language is Cayuga. However, because many members of the Cayuga Nation have integrated and are living among the Senecas, many of us are also familiar with the Seneca language.
CLAN
Among the Haudenosaunee are groups of people who come together as families known as clans. As a matrilineal society, each clan is linked by a common female ancestor and women hold a leadership role within the clan. The number of clans varies among the nations. For example, the Mohawk has three clains while the Oneida has eight. Clans are represented by birds and animals and are divided into the three elements: water, land, and air. The bear, wolf, and deer represent the land element, the turtle, eel, and beaver represent the water element and the snipe, hawk, and heron represent the air element. The Cayuga Nation has five clans and each member of the Nation belongs to one of these clans. The Cayuga Nation has a maternal ancestry, which means Cayuga mothers will have children of her same clan. Each Clan has a Clan Mother, a Chief or sub Chief, or a Seat Warmer.
Among the Haudenosaunee are groups of people who come together as families known as clans. As a matrilineal society, each clan is linked by a common female ancestor and women hold a leadership role within the clan. The number of clans varies among the nations. For example, the Mohawk has three clains while the Oneida has eight. Clans are represented by birds and animals and are divided into the three elements: water, land, and air. The bear, wolf, and deer represent the land element, the turtle, eel, and beaver represent the water element and the snipe, hawk, and heron represent the air element. The Cayuga Nation has five clans and each member of the Nation belongs to one of these clans. The Cayuga Nation has a maternal ancestry, which means Cayuga mothers will have children of her same clan. Each Clan has a Clan Mother, a Chief or sub Chief, or a Seat Warmer.
CEREMONIES
The Haudenosaunee hold ceremonies throughout the year, each representing one of the 13 moons of the year. These ceremonies take place throughout the year, often in sync with seasonal changes. Most are ways of expressing thanks to the people, the natural world, the spirit world, and the creator as a means to help maintain the health and prosperity of the nations.
Each ceremony includes an opening and closing prayer followed by dances and songs. Traditional stories of special significance to the Haudenosaunee are often shared to continue historical teachings. Because music and dance were major parts of the Haudenosaunee lives, ceremonies and social dances could involve 60 to 70 songs using instruments like water drums and gourd rattles.
The ceremonies are:
Midwinter – Second week in January, lasting for approximately eight days
Maple Ceremony – Second week in February, one day only
Thunder Dance – First week in April to welcome back the thunderers
Sun and Moon Dance – Beginning of May to give thanks to the sun and second week of May to give thanks to the moon in the morning and evening respectively
Seed Ceremony – Middle of May, one day only
Planting Ceremony – End of May
Strawberry Ceremony – Middle of May, one day only
Green Corn – Middle of August
Harvest – Middle of October, lasting four days
Thunder - Takes place in November
The Haudenosaunee hold ceremonies throughout the year, each representing one of the 13 moons of the year. These ceremonies take place throughout the year, often in sync with seasonal changes. Most are ways of expressing thanks to the people, the natural world, the spirit world, and the creator as a means to help maintain the health and prosperity of the nations.
Each ceremony includes an opening and closing prayer followed by dances and songs. Traditional stories of special significance to the Haudenosaunee are often shared to continue historical teachings. Because music and dance were major parts of the Haudenosaunee lives, ceremonies and social dances could involve 60 to 70 songs using instruments like water drums and gourd rattles.
The ceremonies are:
Midwinter – Second week in January, lasting for approximately eight days
Maple Ceremony – Second week in February, one day only
Thunder Dance – First week in April to welcome back the thunderers
Sun and Moon Dance – Beginning of May to give thanks to the sun and second week of May to give thanks to the moon in the morning and evening respectively
Seed Ceremony – Middle of May, one day only
Planting Ceremony – End of May
Strawberry Ceremony – Middle of May, one day only
Green Corn – Middle of August
Harvest – Middle of October, lasting four days
Thunder - Takes place in November
HOME LIFE
Years ago, members of the Cayuga Nation lived in dwellings called "longhouses". The frame of a longhouse was made of upright logs and cross poles, and then covered with the bark of an elm tree. Several families shared a longhouse, each having space for a cooking and heating fire. The longhouse roof was built with several large openings to allow smoke from the fires to escape.
Years ago, members of the Cayuga Nation lived in dwellings called "longhouses". The frame of a longhouse was made of upright logs and cross poles, and then covered with the bark of an elm tree. Several families shared a longhouse, each having space for a cooking and heating fire. The longhouse roof was built with several large openings to allow smoke from the fires to escape.
APPEARANCE
Living off what was available in their natural surroundings, the Haudenosaunee made clothing from woven natural fibers, hides from elk or deer, and furs from woodland animals like rabbits or bears. Corn husks were sometimes used to make moccasins.
Men’s clothing - The primary garment for men of most nations was breech cloth, which was a long rectangular piece of cloth or soft buckskin worn between the legs and secured with a belt. To cover bare legs, men wore long leggings connected to their breechcloth belt. They also wore kilts made of soft skins. Most importantly was the gustoweh, which was a significant representation of each man's identity. A gustoweh is a frame or cap headpiece decorated with beads and, most importantly, feathers attached in a way that distinguished the wearer from members of different nations. For example, the Cayuga Nation’s gustoweh contains one eagle feather resting downwards off the head.
Women’s Clothing - Women generally wore skirts and tunics or poncho-style shirts or dresses. Simple skirts were typically a large piece of hide tied around the waist and might have been fringed at the bottom. While they might wear breechcloths underneath skirts or dresses, women never wore outer clothing. They, too, wore leggings, but theirs were often shorter than ones worn by men and stopped just above the knee. Women’s moccasins were similar to men's, but cut differently. Women did not wear gustowehs, but had hoods for head coverings in colder months.
Living off what was available in their natural surroundings, the Haudenosaunee made clothing from woven natural fibers, hides from elk or deer, and furs from woodland animals like rabbits or bears. Corn husks were sometimes used to make moccasins.
Men’s clothing - The primary garment for men of most nations was breech cloth, which was a long rectangular piece of cloth or soft buckskin worn between the legs and secured with a belt. To cover bare legs, men wore long leggings connected to their breechcloth belt. They also wore kilts made of soft skins. Most importantly was the gustoweh, which was a significant representation of each man's identity. A gustoweh is a frame or cap headpiece decorated with beads and, most importantly, feathers attached in a way that distinguished the wearer from members of different nations. For example, the Cayuga Nation’s gustoweh contains one eagle feather resting downwards off the head.
Women’s Clothing - Women generally wore skirts and tunics or poncho-style shirts or dresses. Simple skirts were typically a large piece of hide tied around the waist and might have been fringed at the bottom. While they might wear breechcloths underneath skirts or dresses, women never wore outer clothing. They, too, wore leggings, but theirs were often shorter than ones worn by men and stopped just above the knee. Women’s moccasins were similar to men's, but cut differently. Women did not wear gustowehs, but had hoods for head coverings in colder months.
SPORTS
Art, sports, games, music, and dance were staples in the Haudenosaunee people’s lives and were woven into their day-to-day activities. Every game or piece of art had a second significant purpose. Sports like lacrosse were played by men as a sort of conditioning to maintain and further develop their physical agility. Baskets, combs, and beadwork clothing, which are seen as artistic pieces today, were made for practical use but with as much love and attention as any artistic piece today.
Most children's games involved role-playing to learn about the responsibilities and tasks of their mothers and fathers. For young boys, lacrosse was a way of teaching the skills of stealth, strength, agility, and speed. Girls played with cornhusk dolls to prepare them for the role of nurturer. Storytelling helped the young learn the stories of their culture, heritage, and the ways of the Haudenosaunee.
Art, sports, games, music, and dance were staples in the Haudenosaunee people’s lives and were woven into their day-to-day activities. Every game or piece of art had a second significant purpose. Sports like lacrosse were played by men as a sort of conditioning to maintain and further develop their physical agility. Baskets, combs, and beadwork clothing, which are seen as artistic pieces today, were made for practical use but with as much love and attention as any artistic piece today.
Most children's games involved role-playing to learn about the responsibilities and tasks of their mothers and fathers. For young boys, lacrosse was a way of teaching the skills of stealth, strength, agility, and speed. Girls played with cornhusk dolls to prepare them for the role of nurturer. Storytelling helped the young learn the stories of their culture, heritage, and the ways of the Haudenosaunee.