Clans: Iroquois
tribes divided their tribe into groups called clans. Clans were family
groups. It was forbidden to marry someone from your own clan. When a
man married, he joined his wife's clan. When children were born, they
became members of their mother's clan. The clan mother headed each
clan. Most nations were divided into three clans. The Seneca had eight
clans.
The
Clan Mother: The clan mother had a great deal of
power. She selected the Council members. Before the Council met to
make decisions for the clan, the clan mother offered each member
advice. Council members were usually chosen for life. But, if the clan
mother felt she had made a mistake, she could fire a council member
and choose someone new in his place. So, although the men ruled, they
had to do so in a way that would please the clan mother.
