Iroquois or Haudenosaunee?

There are two names used to refer to many Native Americans from Upstate New York. One is the traditional name in their Native language. The other is a term coined by French settlers in the 1600s, developed as they interacted with Native American tribes in the Northeast. Onondaga storyteller Perry Ground explains the difference, and why the distinction is important.

[@humanbeing2009]

Thank you for the history and correct pronunciation of what the Haudenosaunee call themselves. I always wanted to know this.

[@miketacos9034]

Oh wow, the difference of People Building the Longhouse is really an important distinction. It's not just about houses, it's about union. That is so cool!

[@GretchenHewitt]

OH MY GOODNESS, THANK YOU! Finally I have gotten the correct explanation of the origin of "Iroquois".

[@oskarroza]

I love the explanation given here. Some time ago I was surprised that the game I enjoy (Age of Empires 3 Definitive Edition) with its re-release (original was published in 2005, the new version in 2020) introduced the name Haudenosaunee instead of the Iroquois. Glad I've found this video as now I feel that I correctly understand the reasoning behind the cgange in the game ;)

[@BaronVonQuiply]

I like that metaphor of the people building the long house of peace and cooperation

[@rhetleonard2968]

Thank you for posting this interesting and important information. It enables me to understand with more clarity some of the unresolved issues and grievances that may be hundreds of years old. Human coexistence is complicated…. My hope is that construction of the longhouse continues ☮️

[@MicheleHG]

Great Storyteller! Thanks, I learned a lot. Yikes! Snakes?

[@bryankreinhart]

As an Onondowaga of the Haudenosaunee, I am please to see the true history of the derogatory "Iroquois" name is being taught. To many of the Haudenosaunee, being called "Iroquois" is similar to using the "N" word. Also happy to note that he is teaching that Haudenosaunee is "People who _BUILD_ the longhouse" as even many Haudenosaunee incorrectly say people _of_ the longhouse. My people are few, but we are proud. To all my Haudenosaunee brothers and sisters, never let our traditions die but to carry on in the next generations.

[@meatmoneymilkmonogamyequal5583]

Thank you for that knowledge!!!! wow!!! talk about lost in translation!

[@ritochkabasaev]

Thank u aoe3 for recommend me that video

[@Makedonac007]

Every dollar 🌞 🌳 That sweet piece 🦘 Amen

[@ericgideon9237]

Great explanation

[@tammytate579]

Good on everyone who offered only love in their comments.

[@jcclarkeru]

This is great!

[@delphine2798]

wow, thank you so much!

[@cardisinn5097]

Love it!!!

[@staciecarverd8136]

Love this! As a descendant of the Mohawk, I have missed the opportunity to learn about our culture -- for many reasons, beyond my ancestors not being about to teach and assure culture and traditions were passed along. This is but a start, as brief as it was, it's a start.

[@goobertsnoobert9015]

Fellow descendant of the Kanien’kehà:ka here… I feel u sis

[@gibbons1955]

Unity ❤

[@Nevermore1816]

I am currently writing a short history paper about Nekumonta saving his wife, Shanewis. Any guidance on pronunciation of their names?

[@RickImus]

Engaging presentation by Mr Ground. This is changing, but currently Iroquois is simply easier to pronounce than Haudenasaunee.

[@thewolverinespirit22]

I'm descendant from the Basque and these people 😮

[@gansobravo8931]

Eu sou brasileiro essa semana eu estava conversando com minha tia avó de 85 anos e ela me disse que a família da mãe dela era iroque , perguntei a ela oque era isso , se era uma cidade daqui do Brasil e ela não soube me responder , só disse que a mãe dela dizia que eram iroque , ela perdeu sua mãe ainda criança então não tem mais informação ,achei interessante sabendo que eu já tenho sangue indígena brasileiro.

[@brianperkins6121]

Burryed "internaly" within the roots of number of English language words , including many words we all just take for granted and use everyday and that we think mean good things are hidden "Euphemisms". For example we all use the word "Free(Dom)" in a very positive light . But in this case there's Latin enbedded in there. What's that "Dom" on the end all about ?.. Colonists did the same thing to many of the words and phrases that relate to the first peoples of turtle island.,.in recognition, The Haudenosaunee did not have a good reputation with other indigious peoples because they used have many conflits with one another.. To understand that history one really needs to sit down and listen to the "Full story" of The Great Law of Peace. as told in the oral traditions by a first nation storyteller.. many people refect topical parts of the story with the key details excluded , this drives people to the wrong conclusion about many of its core aspects.

[@zaindershabazz5583]

I'm born and raised in Onondaga ny 10/14/1976

[@brodieelliott7556]

Our House is Already built. If anything it's called adding to the rafters.

[@stormking7763]

Is it true that the Haudenosaunee offered the Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam a tribal membership?

[@susanconstantdrake7189]

I do live in Hardin Valley

[@alexdenommee3219]

Same goes for Sioux, meaning "Snakes in the Grass", which was a colonial term as well. Iroquois being considered "snakes" as well, which was a colonial term. These terms were used due to the fact that the colonials would abuse trade agreements, etc (like how the elite do now) and then blame the Natives after the colonials had basically broke trade agreements, even after scamming and ripping the Natives of their home, and their heritage. It's weird how racial terms are accepted as norms in some contexts, and misinterpreted in other contexts.

[@FranklinNewhart]

He needs to correct himself in the reference to Mohawk. This is another bad word from others to refer to my tribe. We are Kanyen'kehà:ka not Mohawk.

[@centillion1684]

11:39 AM Mar 21 2∅24

[@diegoarmando5489]

Iroquois is the word that I learned in school as a child. I still use it sometimes because it survives in linguistics. I suspect this to be the case because not all indigenous people who speak "Iroquois" languages are from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

[@Scalara9]

Most people who speak languages from the Haudenosaunee are either linguists/historians with a little knowledge of the languages or elderly old enough to remember the language. The languages are almost dead... only a few of the later generations have learned the languages and they are not likely to survive many more generations. "Iroquois" survives because the people that called us that were the majority and the ones writing history books. We were forcibly torn from our cultures for 100s of years and assimilated. There's maybe 81,000 of all 6 Haudenosaunee nations in NA. and most of us were not raised with our culture.

[@erinkeaton5158]

@@Scalara9 not true. at least at Akwesasne, they have had a vibrant Mohawk language immersion school since the 70's. Many many of the younger generations are being educated into the language. My grandfather never spoke it, though he was born on St. Regis. (he was taken to boarding school, then had to leave the rez as a teen :(

[@doxholiday1372]

I like how other Indians called them snakes, but the French get blamed for it because the translation they used became popular.

[@tammytate579]

I have decided you are Bridget. Hi Bridget, nice to meet you.

[@Scalara9]

"other indians"... you're literally watching a video teaching you the correct way to refer to our peoples and you're gonna go back to using indian? in case you are unaware, the people who discovered all the nations on NA thought we were East Indians and, since we looked brown, they just kept calling us that and bc no one has given enough of a shit to change it, we are still called that. Indigenous is preferred when referring to more than one indigenous nation. We are not from India. tyvm But yes. Other nations called us snakes and the French never went to our people and said "hey, what do you call yourselves?" and just called us a word with a unkind meaning rather than take the time to learn cuz we all look brown so we must all be the same right??? so yes, the French, also my ancestors too, get blamed for their inconsideration.

[@nickb3164]

@@Scalara9 to be fair to the OP, many natives do prefer the term "american indian"

[@napoleonbonaparte9227]

I'm Portuguese and we call you iroquees

[@azulmarino1359]

i thought you were napoleon

[@solveiglandvikbrg9103]

@@azulmarino1359 Ha ha ha !!! 😁 😅 😂

[@tammytate579]

I'm Heinz 57, and I call you rattu rattu. 😏

[@gansobravo8931]

Essa semana minha tia avó me contou que a mãe dela dizia que eles eram de família iroque , achei que ela teria se enganado que talvez seria Iraque kk pesquisei sobres os iroques e cheguei até aqui , pra mim até que fez sentido oque ela disse , ela já tem 85 anos e perdeu a mãe ainda criança , então só oque ela soube me dizer foi isso.

[@thinktank2255]

I wish that people, especially European Americans, would pronounce Iroquois correctly. 😂 @ 1:58

[@MilesDei95]

so you are just american vikings xd sweet :D

[@samanthamonaghan7579]

Mohawk is a bad word though, it means man eater or canibal (the better word is people of the flint) Kanienʼkéha

[@escofhari]

He means ‘black snakes’ Iroquois

[@escofhari]

Hodinoshawnee pronunciation

[@Escumbuit77]

"Iroquois" comes from Algonquin and it means in most cases "VERMIN", a dirty word ;-). "Real snakes" is only one translation.

[@torrawel]

Leuk! Nice! By the way, we also don't call ourselves "Dutch" 😂 Bloody English people! 😂 So yeah... Giving the wrong names to other peoples is quite common...

[@tammytate579]

The bigotry on this thread would make Columbus proud. 😒

[@VitorEmanuelOliver]

Last time I checked there were at least 4 theories to the origin and meaning of the term Iroquois. There's no absolute consensus on what exactly it means and where it came from. You can't take this explanation as absolute truth

[@tammytate579]

I think imma call you Frank. Hi Frank, nice to meet you. 😏

[@krisvalentine9331]

Unless you are a member of the Haudenosaunee, your opinion on this truly doesn't matter. The Haudenosaunee don't find the word iroquois to be representative of their people, thus we will not use it. End of story.

[@VitorEmanuelOliver]

@@krisvalentine9331 Where did u see someone insisting on saying Iroquois? Learn to read the words for what they actually mean. Fake news and complex matters are just what they are, you don't spread false information even with the best of intentions at heart, it's still wrong. My opinion doesn't matter, agreed, facts do. And the fact is: the origin of the term Iroquois is not certain. That's my only criticism

[@Thorenhard]

@@krisvalentine9331 how can you miss the point this much

[@cashcleaner]

@@krisvalentine9331 Cool story, bro? 🤷‍♂️

[@makewarnomore]

beating up on the Lenne Lanape its no wonder "the river Indians"("Delaware")didnt like yall.

[@tammytate579]

You seem like a Karen to me. Hi Karen, nice to meet you. ✌️💜🌈

[@Flammenhagel]

"us" what a joke

[@iyizjewelsisley3821]

This is not true there not friends look at the truth.

[@iyizjewelsisley3821]

@Captain Canuck are you native

[@groovenpeace4654]

Why 2 years this bull rap still being pushed he need to stop doubling up on the lies.

[@groovenpeace4654]

He talking about his own people he ain't one of us you would never be indigenous like the indigenous , stop telling lies by fitting your description in it over with the lies and the games quit it.

[@claudiacaceres2580]

this guy looks white

[@narki2619]

Without seeing your picture I can say you look ignorant

[@kilipaki87oritahiti]

So because he doesn’t fit your stereotypical racist view of what an indigenous person should look like according to Hollywood, and western movies, he’s suddenly white? The eastern woodland tribes of the east coast where the 1st ones in North America that met the 1st European settlers. It’s also been 500 years of genocide, slavery, and colonialism and ongoing. Also you can’t expect people in 2021 to look like how they did back in the 1600’s and onwards. Change of lifestyle, diet, climate, fashion as well assimilation and globalism has had it’s impact on what they look like today vs their pre/colonial ancestors. Regardless of his appearance it’s an insult that you as a white person makes such un called for racist claims about an indigenous person, like you devalue and doubt his nativeness. Just another form of colonialism and imperialistic way of thinking, even racist! You never hear: “he looks brown” about any white person, but as soon as a POC doesn’t look “token minority” enough, they are suddenly white therefor not really native. And if not really native it justifies your racist views, the theft of land, genocide of 100 million First Nation people since the coming of the white man to the Americas, and illegal immigration!

[@theAEDan]

Yea that’s what I was thinking. I think he has a bit of native in him, but I don’t think it constitutes the majority

[@eugenemcgloin6780]

Well, 250 Years, or so, of inter-cultural contact and marriage can have that effect.

[@ansettwise0005]

Living in an air-conditioned house is enough to make any race of people looks white.