Difference between revisions of "Tuscarora (tribe)" - New World Encyclopedia

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The '''Tuscarora''' are an [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]] tribe originally in [[North Carolina]], which moved north to [[New York]], and then partially into [[Canada]].
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The '''Tuscarora''' are an [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]] tribe originally in [[North Carolina]], which moved north to [[New York]], and then partially into [[Canada]]. Their name derives from their use of [[hemp]], meaning "hemp gatherers." Encountering [[Europe]]an settlers in the seventeenth century, the Tuscarora maintained harmonious relationships with them for half a century. They were willing to share with them what they had.
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However, the settlers not only brought [[disease]]s which reduced the Tuscarora population, they also began to take their lands and [[kidnap]]ped and sold into [[slavery]] their women and children. Seeing no way to deal with the situation other than violence, the southern group of Tuscarora enlisted the help of other native [[Algonquian]] tribes and an uprising took place, leading to the [[Tuscarora War]]. The outcome was that the Tuscarora became the first native people to be dispossessed of their land during [[colonization]], and they walked north to New York in the early eighteenth century to join the [[Iroquois Confederacy]] ''(Haudenonsaunee)''. Accepted by the confederacy, they have been part of the Six Nations ever since, together with the [[Cayuga]], [[Mohawk]], [[Oneida]], [[Onondaga]], and [[Seneca]].
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The Iroquois, too, faced problems as the [[American Revolutionary War]] came to their region. After the war, those who had sided with the [[Britain|British]] moved north to [[Canada]], where they were given land. Tuscarora live on that reserve today. A substantial portion of Tuscaroras joined the Oneidas in supporting the Americans, however, and they remained on land in New York.
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{{toc}}
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Today, Tuscarora live in Canada and New York. Despite their difficult past, they continue as a sovereign nation with the ''Haudenosaunee'' government including chiefs, clan mothers, and faithkeepers. They maintain their culture and traditions, such as playing the traditional form of [[lacrosse]] called "[[stickball]]," traditionally used as a method of setting inter-tribal disputes without the violence of war.  
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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The Tuscarora originally inhabited the coastal plain of what became [[North Carolina]].  
 
The Tuscarora originally inhabited the coastal plain of what became [[North Carolina]].  
  
The first successful and permanent settlement of North Carolina by [[Europe]]ans began in earnest in 1653. The Tuscarora lived in peace with the European settlers who arrived in North Carolina for over 50 years at a time when nearly every other [[colony]] in America was actively involved in some form of conflict with the [[American Indians]]. However, the arrival of the settlers was ultimately disastrous for the aboriginal inhabitants of North Carolina.
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The first successful and permanent settlement of North Carolina by [[Europe]]ans began in earnest in 1653. The Tuscarora lived in peace with the European settlers who arrived in North Carolina for over 50 years at a time when nearly every other [[colony]] in America was actively involved in some form of [[conflict]] with the [[American Indians]]. In his ''History of Carolina'' originally published in 1718, Lawson wrote about the Tuscarora, with whom he was well-acquainted, finding them:
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<blockquote>really better to us than we have been to them, as they always freely give us of their victuals at their quarters, while we let them walk by our doors hungry, and do not often relieve them. We look upon them with disdain and scorn, and think them little better than beasts in human form; while with all our religion and education, we possess more moral deformities and vices than these people do (Lawson 1718).</blockquote>
  
There were two primary contingents of Tuscarora at this point, a Northern group led by Chief [[Tom Blunt]] and a Southern group led by Chief Hancock. Chief Blunt occupied the area around what is present-day [[Bertie County]] on the [[Roanoke River]]; Chief Hancock was closer to [[New Bern, North Carolina]], occupying the area south of the Pamplico River (now the [[Pamlico River]]). While Chief Blunt became close friends with the Blount family of the Bertie region, Chief Hancock found his villages raided and his people frequently [[kidnap]]ped and sold into [[slavery]]. Both groups were heavily impacted by the introduction of European [[disease]]s, and both were rapidly having their lands stolen by the encroaching settlers. Ultimately, Chief Hancock felt there was no alternative but to attack the settlers.  
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However, the arrival of the settlers was ultimately disastrous for the aboriginal inhabitants of North Carolina. There were two primary contingents of Tuscarora, a Northern group led by Chief [[Tom Blunt]] and a Southern group led by Chief Hancock. Chief Blunt occupied the area around what is present-day [[Bertie County]] on the [[Roanoke River]]; Chief Hancock was closer to [[New Bern, North Carolina]], occupying the area south of the Pamplico River (now the [[Pamlico River]]). While Chief Blunt became close friends with the Blount family of the Bertie region, Chief Hancock found his villages raided and his people frequently [[kidnap]]ped and sold into [[slavery]]. Both groups were heavily impacted by the introduction of European [[disease]]s, and both were rapidly having their lands stolen by the encroaching settlers. Ultimately, Chief Hancock felt there was no alternative but to attack the settlers.  
  
The Southern Tuscarora, led by Chief Hancock, worked in conjunction with local [[Algonquian]] tribes, including the [[Pamplico]], the [[Coree]], the [[Mattamuskeet]], and the [[Matchepungoes]], to attack the settlers in a wide range of locations in a short time period. The first attacks began on September 22, 1711, beginning the [[Tuscarora War]]. Several key political figures were either killed or driven off in the subsequent months.
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The Southern Tuscarora, led by Chief Hancock, worked in conjunction with local [[Algonquian]] tribes, including the [[Pamlico]], the [[Coree]], the [[Mattamuskeet]], and the [[Matchepungoes]], to attack the settlers in a wide range of locations in a short time period. The first attacks began on September 22, 1711, beginning the [[Tuscarora War]].
  
Governor [[Edward Hyde]] called out the [[militia]] of North Carolina and attacked the Southern Tuscarora and other tribes in [[Craven County]] at [[Fort Narhantes]] on the banks of the Neuse River in 1712. Many were killed and prisoners, largely women and children, were ultimately sold into [[slavery]].
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Governor [[Edward Hyde]] called out the [[militia]] of North Carolina and attacked the Southern Tuscarora and other tribes in [[Craven County]] at [[Fort Narhantes]] on the banks of the Neuse River in 1712. Many were killed and prisoners, largely women and children, were sold into slavery.
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[[Image:Fort Neoheroka Historical Marker.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Fort Neoheroka Historical Marker.jpg]]
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Chief Blunt was then offered the chance to control the entire Tuscarora tribe if he assisted the settlers in putting down Chief Hancock. Chief Blunt was able to capture Chief Hancock, and the settlers executed him in 1712. In 1713, the Southern Tuscaroras lost [[Fort Neoheroka]], located in [[Greene County, North Carolina|Greene County]], with over a thousand killed or captured (Norton et al, 2007). It was at this point that the majority of the Southern Tuscarora began migrating to New York to escape the settlers in North Carolina.
  
Chief Blunt was then offered the chance to control the entire Tuscarora tribe if he assisted the settlers in putting down Chief Hancock. Chief Blunt was able to capture Chief Hancock, and the settlers executed him in 1712. In 1713 the Southern Tuscaroras lost [[Fort Neoheroka]], located in [[Greene County, North Carolina|Greene County]], with over a thousand killed or captured (Norton et al, 2007). A [[treaty]] was signed in 1715. It was at this point that the majority of the Southern Tuscarora began migrating to New York to escape the settlers in North Carolina.
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The remaining Tuscarora signed a treaty with the settlers in June 1718 granting them a tract of land on the [[Roanoke River]] in what is now Bertie County. This was the area already occupied by Tom Blunt, who had taken on the name Blount and was recognized by the Legislature of North Carolina as King [[Tom Blount]]. The remaining Southern Tuscarora were removed from their homes on the Pamlico River and made to move to Bertie. In 1722, Bertie County was chartered, and over the next several decades the remaining Tuscorara lands were continually diminished, sold off in deals that were frequently designed to take advantage of the American Indians.  
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{{readout||right|250px|After conflict with [[Europe]]an settlers the Tuscarora left their lands in [[North Carolina]] and settled in [[New York]] where they became the sixth tribe to join the [[Iroquois Confederacy]]}}
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After the [[Tuscarora War]] most of the tribe removed from North Carolina to New York to become the sixth nation of the [[Iroquois]], settling near the [[Oneida]]s on land given them by the [[Seneca nation]]. The [[human migration|migration]] period took approximately 90 years to complete. Some lived in [[Pennsylvania]] for a time before moving to New York. Others, who had not been involved in the uprisings, were permitted to remain in their villages in North Carolina, but later most joined the tribe in New York. To this day there are still many people in North Carolina and other states who claim Tuscarora descent.
  
The remaining Tuscarora signed a treaty with the settlers in June 1718 granting them a tract of land on the [[Roanoke River]] in what is now Bertie County. This was the area already occupied by Tom Blunt, who had taken on the name Blount, was now recognized by the Legislature of North Carolina as King [[Tom Blount]]. The remaining Southern Tuscarora were removed from their homes on the Pamlico River and made to move to Bertie. In 1722 Bertie County was chartered, and over the next several decades the remaining Tuscorara lands were continually diminished as they were sold off in deals that were frequently designed to take advantage of the American Indians.  
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A substantial portion of the Tuscaroras sided with the [[Oneida tribe|Oneida nation]] against the rest of the [[Haudenosaunee|League of the Six Nations]] by fighting for the U.S. government during the [[American Revolutionary War]]. Those that remained allies of the Crown later followed [[Joseph Brant]] into [[Ontario]], [[Canada]].
  
After the [[Tuscarora War]] most of the tribe removed from North Carolina to New York to become the sixth nation of the [[Iroquois]], settling near the [[Oneida]]s. The [[human migration|migration]] period took approximately 90 years to complete. To this day there are still many people in North Carolina and other states who claim Tuscarora descent.
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In 1803, the final contingent of the Tuscarora migrated to New York to join the tribe at their reservation in [[Niagara County, New York|Niagara County]], under a treaty directed by [[Thomas Jefferson]]. By 1804, only a few scattered families remained in North Carolina. In 1831, the Tuscarora sold the remaining rights to their lands in North Carolina, which had been reduced from their original 56,000 acres (227 km²) to a mere 2000 acres (8 km²).
  
A substantial portion of the Tuscaroras sided with the [[Oneida tribe|Oneida nation]] against the rest of the [[Haudenosaunee|League of the Six Nations]] by fighting for the US government during the [[American Revolutionary War]]. Those that remained allies of the Crown later followed [[Joseph Brant]] into [[Ontario]], [[Canada]].
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==Culture==
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The Tuscarora originated in the area of the Atlantic coastal plain that became [[North Carolina]]. Their lifestyle there included [[hunter-gatherer|hunting and gathering]], as well as some [[farming]]. [[Fishing]] contributed significantly to their diet, as they could fish both in the [[river]]s and gather [[shellfish]] and other fish from the [[ocean]] (Waldman 2006).
  
In 1803 the final contingent of the Tuscarora migrated to New York to join the tribe at their reservation in [[Niagara County, New York|Niagara County]], under a treaty directed by [[Thomas Jefferson]]. In 1831 the Tuscarora sold the remaining rights to their lands in North Carolina, which had been reduced from their original 56,000 acres (227 km²) to a mere 2000 acres (8 km²).
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In the early eighteenth century, after the end of the Tuscarora War, most of the tribe removed from North Carolina to [[New York]] to become the sixth nation of the [[Iroquois Confederacy]]. The Tuscarora adoped ''Gayanashagowa,'' the [[Great Law of Peace]]—the founding constitution. This established the government of the nations, the duties and procedures of chiefs and clan mothers, and methods of resolving disputes among member nations. It is codified with the help of a memory device in the form of special beads called [[wampum]] that have inherent spiritual value.  
  
==Culture==
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At that time they adopted more aspects of the Iroquois culture, participating in Haudenosaunee rituals and living in [[long house]]s--long lodges that were extended as the families grew, also used for ceremonies and council meetings. Their language also evolved as a branch of the Iroquoian languages.  
Th Tuscarora originated in the area of the Atlantic coastal plain that became [[North Carolina]]. Their lifestyle there included [[hunter-gatherer|hunting and gathering]], as well as some [[farming]]. [[Fishing]] contributed significantly to their diet, as they could fish both in the [[river]]s and gather [[shellfish]] and other fish from the [[ocean]] (Waldman 2006).
 
  
In the early eighteenth century, after the end of the Tuscarora War in 1715, most of the tribe removed from North Carolina to [[New York]] to become the sixth nation of the [[Iroquois Confederacy]]. At that time they adopted many aspects of the Iroquois culture, participating in Haudenosaunee rituals and developing their language as a branch of the Iroquoian languages.
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The men also adopted the use of ''[[gustoweh]]'', feathered caps constructed with [[turkey]] feathers. Each of the tribes in the Iroquois Nation had a different style of ''gustoweh''. The Tuscarora style had no upright [[eagle]] feathers, whereas those of the other nations had one, two, or three such feathers in addition to the turkey feathers.
  
 
===Language===
 
===Language===
[[Skarure]], the Tuscarora language, is a member of the Northern branch of the [[Iroquoian languages]].
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The Tuscarora language, known as [[Skarohreh]] is a member of the Northern branch of the [[Iroquoian languages]]. It is spoken in southern [[Ontario]], [[Canada]], and northwestern [[New York]] around [[Niagara Falls]], in the [[United States]]. The original homeland of the Tuscarora was in eastern [[North Carolina]], in and around the [[Goldsboro]], [[Kinston]], and [[Smithfield]] areas, and some, though few, still live in this region. The name ''Tuscarora'' comes from the tribe's name and means "hemp people," after the [[Indian hemp]] or [[milkweed]] that they use in many aspects of their society. ''Skarureh'' refers to the long shirt worn as part of the men's regalia, hence "long shirt people."
It is spoken in southern [[Ontario]], [[Canada]], and northwestern [[New York]] around [[Niagara Falls]], in the [[United States]]. The original homeland of the Tuscarora was in eastern [[North Carolina]], in and around the [[Goldsboro]], [[Kinston]], and [[Smithfield]] areas, and some, though few, still live in this region. The name ''Tuscarora'' (pronounced approximately "Tuh-skuh-roar-uh") comes from the tribe's name and means "hemp people," after the [[Indian hemp]] or [[milkweed]] that they use in many aspects of their society. "Skarureh" refers to the long shirt worn as part of the men's regalia, hence "long shirt people."
 
  
Tuscarora is a living but [[endangered language|severely endangered]] language. As of the mid-1970s, only about 52 people spoke the language on the [[Tuscarora Reservation, New York|Tuscarora Reservation]] ([[Lewiston, New York]]) and the [[Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation]] (near [[Brantford, Ontario]]) . The [http://www.nw.wnyric.org/tuscarora/tuscaroraschool/index.html Tuscarora School in Lewiston] has striven to keep the language alive, teaching children from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade. Despite this, [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=tus Ethnologue] reports a total of only 11 to 13 speakers in the 1990s, all of whom are older adults.
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The Tuscarora language can appear complex to those unfamiliar with it, more in terms of the [[grammar]] than the [[ipa|sound system]]. Many ideas can be expressed in a single word, and most words involve several components that must be considered before speaking (or writing). It is written using mostly symbols from the [[Roman alphabet]], with some variations, additions, and [[diacritic]]s.
  
The Tuscarora language can appear complex to those unfamiliar with it, more in terms of the [[grammar]] than the [[ipa|sound system]]. Many ideas can be expressed in a single word, and most words involve several components that must be considered before speaking (or writing). It is written using mostly symbols from the [[Roman alphabet]], with some variations, additions, and [[diacritic]]s.
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Tuscarora is a living but [[endangered language|severely endangered]] language. As of the mid-1970s, only about 52 people spoke the language on the [[Tuscarora Reservation, New York|Tuscarora Reservation]] ([[Lewiston, New York]]) and the [[Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation]] (near [[Brantford, Ontario]]). The Tuscarora School in Lewiston has striven to keep the language alive, teaching children from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade. Despite this, only a dozen speakers remained in the 1990s, all of whom are older adults.
  
 
===Religion===
 
===Religion===
The Tuscarora adopeted Iroquois tradition which recognized a supreme creator, ''Orenda'', in the festivals held for [[harvest]], [[maple]] sap, [[strawberry|strawberries]], and [[corn|maize]]. They believed that winter is a time of death in which Mother Earth goes into a long slumber, in which many plants die, but when spring arrives and nature begins to flourish, she has woken up and given life once again. Celebration of the maple sap and strawberries as well as corn planting were considered spiritual in nature. Also, in the winter, there was an important eight-day festival to give thanks and to forget past wrongs.
 
 
[[Image:Stonish Giants-Wiki.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Stonish Giants, engraving by David Cusick from ''Sketches of the Ancient History of the Six Nations'']]
 
[[Image:Stonish Giants-Wiki.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Stonish Giants, engraving by David Cusick from ''Sketches of the Ancient History of the Six Nations'']]
  
The Iroquois believed in a supreme spirit, Orenda, the "Great Spirit" from whom all other spirits were derived.
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The Iroquois believed in a supreme spirit, ''Orenda,'' the "Great Spirit," from whom all other spirits were derived. Legends tell of ''Atahensic'' (also called ''Ataensic''), the sky goddess, who fell to the earth at the time of creation and was carried down to the land by the wings of birds. After her fall from the sky she gave birth to Hahgwehdiyu and Hahgwehdaetgah, twin sons. She died in childbirth and was considered the goddess of pregnancy, fertility, and feminine skills. Hahgwehdiyu put a plant into his mothers lifeless body and from it grew [[maize]] as a gift to humankind. Hahgwehdaetgah his twin was an evil spirit.  
Atahensic (also called Ataensic) is a sky goddess who fell to the earth at the time of creation. According to legend, she was carried down to the land by the wings of birds. After her fall from the sky she gave birth to Hahgwehdiyu and Hahgwehdaetgah, twin sons. She died in childbirth and was considered the goddess of pregnancy, fertility, and feminine skills.
 
 
 
Hahgwehdiyu put a plant into his mothers lifeless body and from it grew [[maize]] as a gift to humankind. Hahgwehdaetgah his twin was an evil spirit.  
 
  
Festivals were held to honor [[maple sap]] and [[strawberry|strawberries]]. In the winter, an eight-day celebration was held to give thanks and to forgive wrongs that occurred during the past year. Medicine groups such as the False Face Society danced with wooden [[mask]]s. Illness was thought to be caused by spiritual influences. A sick person received dances and songs to be performed in their [[dream]]s. [[Shaman]]s were adept at using as many as 200 medicinal herbs to assist with healing (Pritzker 2000).  
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The Tuscarora, together all Haudenosaunee, believed that winter is a time of death in which Mother Earth goes into a long slumber and many plants die, but when spring arrives and nature begins to flourish, she has woken up and given life once again. Celebration of the maple sap and strawberries as well as corn planting were considered spiritual in nature. Also, in the winter, there was an important eight-day festival to give thanks and to forget past wrongs (Pritzker 2000).
  
 
In the early nineteenth century the teachings of [[Handsome Lake]] became popular among Tuscarora. Handsome Lake was a [[Seneca]] who taught about [[Jesus]] and also blended the traditional celebrations with [[Christian]]-style confessions of sin and urged Native Americans to stay away from [[alcohol]]. His teachings eventually were incorporated into the [[Longhouse religion]], which continues to have followers today.
 
In the early nineteenth century the teachings of [[Handsome Lake]] became popular among Tuscarora. Handsome Lake was a [[Seneca]] who taught about [[Jesus]] and also blended the traditional celebrations with [[Christian]]-style confessions of sin and urged Native Americans to stay away from [[alcohol]]. His teachings eventually were incorporated into the [[Longhouse religion]], which continues to have followers today.
  
 
==Contemporary Tuscarora==
 
==Contemporary Tuscarora==
* Tuscarora at [[Six Nations of the Grand River]], [[Ontario]]
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The Tuscarora were the first native people to be dispossessed of their land during [[colonization]], and they walked north in the early eighteenth century to join the [[Haudenosaunee]]. Accepted into the [[Iroquois Confederacy]] they have been part of the Six Nations ever since.  
 
 
'''Six Nations of the Grand River''' is the name applied to two contiguous [[Indian reserve]]s southeast of [[Brantford, Ontario]], [[Canada]] &ndash; Six Nations reserve no. 40 and Glebe Farm reserve no. 40B.
 
 
 
The original reserve was granted by [[Frederick Haldimand]] under the [[Haldimand Proclamation]] of October 1784 to [[Joseph Brant]] and his [[Iroquois]] followers in appreciation of their support for the Crown during the [[American Revolution]]. In 1785 a census showed that 1,843 Natives lived there which included 448 [[Mohawk nation|Mohawk]], 381 [[Cayuga nation|Cayuga]], 245 [[Onondaga nation|Onondaga]], 162 [[Oneida nation|Oneida]] 129 [[Tuscarora (tribe)|Tuscarora]], 78 [[Seneca nation|Seneca]]. There were also 400 from other tribes including [[Delawares]], Nanticokes, Tutelos, and even some Creeks and Cherokees.<ref>Kelsay pg. 370</ref> Joseph Brant also invited several white families to live on the grant, particularly former members of [[Brant's Volunteers]] and [[Butler's Rangers]]. To encourage his white friends to settle he gave them larger grants than the government gave other loyalists. Some of the Indians objected to Brant giving land grants to whites.
 
 
 
The Indians received provisions from the Indian department including such items as saws, axes, grindstones, and chisels. They received from the government help in the establishing of schools and churches and in securing farm equipment and other necessaries. In 1785, the government built the first Protestant church in Upper Canada (Ontario), Her Majesty's Chapel of the Mohawks, on this land. It is now one of twelve Royal Chapels supported by the Crown throughout the world.
 
 
 
The main town was at what is near Brantford and was called Brant's town where Joseph Brant lived. In 1798 it was described as a large and sprawling settlement and Joseph's house as a handsome two-story house, built like the houses of white people. Brant's house was described as a palace compared with the other dwellings.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} In 1797, Brant founded one of the earliest Masonic lodges in Upper Canada with himself as its Worshipful Master.
 
 
 
In the early 1790s the population started decreasing as Indians left the Grand River for native communities in New York. The communities in New York were richer because these Indians had been selling off their land.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}  After Brant's land sales the population began to increase again.
 
 
 
The Grant was confirmed with a limited deed by Governor Simcoe, January 14, 1793. This deed did not extend to the source of the Grand River{{Fact|date=June 2008}} to which the Six Nations maintained they were entitled, as described in the earlier [[Haldimand Proclamation]]. Also, this deed forbid them to sell the land to anyone but themselves and the king. Led by Joseph Brant, the chiefs rejected the deed.
 
 
 
In 1795, the Grand River chiefs empowered Joseph Brant to sell large blocks of land in the northern section which the Indians were not using. The terms desired where for no money down because they wanted to take their payment entirely in future years as annual interest.
 
 
 
The original tract of land stretched from the mouth of the [[Grand River]] on the shores of [[Lake Erie]] to the river's [[Source (river or stream)|head]], and for 10 [[kilometre|km]] (6&nbsp;[[Mile|mi]]) from either bank. Between 1795 and 1797 Joseph Brant sold 381,480 acres to land speculators comprising the northern half of the reserve for £85,332. This was the highest price ever paid to Indians, up to this time, for wild undeveloped land. Simcoe opposed this sale. The interest on the annuity promised an income of £5,119 per year, far more than any other Iroquois people had received. The land speculators  were unable to sell farm size lots to settlers fast enough and by 1801, all of the land speculators had fallen behind in their payments. Because of the lack of payments Brant was determined to sell more land to make up for the missing payments.
 
 
 
In 1796, [[Lord Dorchester]] issued another deed for the land in which the Indians were given the authority to lease or sell their land provided they offered it for sale to the government first. Brant rejected this deed partly because the deed named the Six Nations as owners of the land when he thought the deed should not be for the current persons living on the land.
 
 
 
In 1800, two thirds of the Indians were still not acquainted with agriculture and living near to whites who had not helped them as much as Brant expected.
 
 
 
In 1828, [[John Brant (Mohawk chief)]] was appointed resident superintendent for the Six Nations of the Grand River.
 
 
 
The current reserves encompass 184.7&nbsp;km² (71&nbsp;mi²), all but 0.4&nbsp;km² in Six Nations reserve no. 40.
 
 
 
Named communities within the Six Nations reserve include Beavers Corner, Longboat Corners, Medina Corners, [[Ohsweken, Ontario|Ohsweken]], St. Johns, Sixty-Nine Corners, Smith Corners, Smoothtown, Sour Spring and Stoneridge.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
They later welcomed a group of [[Lenape|Delawares]] to the reserve.
 
 
 
Six Nations of the Grand River is the most populous reserve in Canada, with a population in 2001 of 21,474. The reserve is home to members of the following nations:
 
 
 
* [[Mohawk nation|Mohawk]]
 
** [[Bay of Quinte Mohawk]]
 
** [[Lower Mohawk]]
 
** [[Upper Mohawk]]
 
** [[Walker Mohawk]]
 
* [[Oneida tribe|Oneida]]
 
* [[Onondaga (tribe)|Onondaga]]
 
** [[Bearfoot Onondaga]]
 
** [[Onondaga Clear Sky]]
 
* [[Cayuga nation|Cayuga]]
 
** [[Lower Cayuga]]
 
** [[Upper Cayuga]]
 
* [[Seneca tribe|Seneca]]
 
** [[Konadaha Seneca]]
 
** [[Niharondasa Seneca]]
 
* [[Lenape|Delaware]] (Munsee)
 
* [[Tuscarora (tribe)|Tuscarora]]
 
 
 
The reserve has both a traditional Iroquois council of chiefs and an elected band council conforming to Canadian government requirements.
 
 
 
* [[Tuscarora Reservation, New York|Tuscarora Nation]] at [[Lewiston, New York]]
 
The '''Tuscarora Reservation''' ('''Nyučirhéˀę'''<ref>Rudes, B. ''Tuscarora English Dictionary'' Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999</ref> in [[Tuscarora language|Tuscarora]]) is an [[Indian reservation]] located in the [[Lewiston, New York|Town of Lewiston]] in [[Niagara County, New York|Niagara County]], [[New York]], [[United States]]. The population was 1,138 at the 2000 census. The [[Tuscarora (tribe)|Tuscarora]] are a tribe of the [[Iroquois]].  
 
 
 
  
The Tuscarora tribe was previously located in [[North Carolina]], but moved north after conflict with European settlers at the beginning of the 18th Century as a result of the [[Tuscarora War]]. They first located in the territory of the [[Oneida tribe]] in central New York. Subsequently, the Tuscarora, like the Oneida, were allies of the American cause during the [[American Revolution]] and the [[War of 1812]], suffering in each case from attacks of the British and their allies. They were given land from the [[Seneca tribe]] in 1797, and, in 1803, were granted a reservation in Niagara County.  
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Since 1927, Tuscarora have joined the annual Border Crossing Celebration founded by Chief [[Clinton Rickard]] to promote the unrestricted crossings between the United States and Canada, as guaranteed in the [[Jay Treaty]] of 1794 and the [[Treaty of Ghent]] of 1814. Rickard founded the Indian Defense League of America, which sponsors the Celebration, to resist the erosion of native rights and promote their culture (Graymont 1994).
  
In 1960, by means of the efforts of [[Robert Moses]], part of the Tuscarora reservation was taken for use by the Niagara Power Authority, leading to a displacement of tribal members and a serious disruption to their economy. Much of the land was used to form a reservoir for the hydroelectric turbines operated by the Power Authority.  
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Today the Tuscarora prosper, living in the [[Indian reservation|reservation]]s of [[Ontario]], [[Canada]] and [[New York]] state. They continue their culture and traditions, government through chiefs, clan mothers, and faithkeepers. They continue to fish in the [[Niagara River]] and play their traditional game of [[lacrosse]] (also known as "[[stick ball]]"), a part of their heritage that is far more than just a game, serving [[religion|religious]] and social purposes as well as being played to settle inter-tribal disputes, and essential function in keeping the Six Nations of the Iroquois together (Printup and Patterson 2007).
  
In 2003, the Power Authority agreed to compensate the tribe and return some unused land.  
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;Six Nations of the Grand River
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[[Six Nations of the Grand River]] is the name applied to two contiguous [[Indian reserve]]s southeast of [[Brantford, Ontario]], [[Canada]].
  
The reservation is a composite holding derived from (1) land given to the tribe the [[Seneca tribe]], Land donated by the [[Holland Land Company]], and (3) Trust territory held by the federal government.  
+
The original reserve was granted by [[Frederick Haldimand]] under the [[Haldimand Proclamation]] of October 1784 to [[Joseph Brant]] and his [[Iroquois]] followers in appreciation of their support for the Crown during the [[American Revolution]]. In 1785, a census showed that 1,843 Natives lived there which included 448 [[Mohawk nation|Mohawk]], 381 [[Cayuga nation|Cayuga]], 245 [[Onondaga]], 162 [[Oneida]], 129 Tuscarora, and 78 [[Seneca]]. There were also 400 from other tribes including [[Lenape|Delawares]], [[Nanticoke]]s, [[Tutelo]]s, and even some [[Creek (American Indians)|Creeks]] and [[Cherokee]]s (Kelsay 1984). Joseph Brant also invited several white families to live on the grant, particularly former members of [[Brant's Volunteers]] and [[Butler's Rangers]].  
  
 +
Today, Six Nations of the Grand River is the most populous reserve in Canada, with a recorded population in 2001 of 21,474. The reserve has both a traditional Iroquois council of chiefs and an elected band council conforming to Canadian government requirements.
  
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the Indian reservation has a total area of 24.0 [[km²]] (9.3 [[square mile|mi²]]), all land. The reservation is located northeast of [[Niagara Falls, New York|Niagara Falls]], [[New York]].  
+
;Tuscarora Nation at Lewiston, New York
 +
The [[Tuscarora Reservation]] is an [[Indian reservation]] located in the [[Lewiston, New York|Town of Lewiston]] in [[Niagara County, New York|Niagara County]], [[New York]], [[United States]]. The population was 1,138 at the 2000 census.  
  
 +
The reservation is a composite holding derived from land given to the tribe the [[Seneca]], land donated by the [[Holland Land Company]], and Trust territory held by the federal government.
  
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 1,138 people, 398 households, and 284 families residing in the Indian reservation. The [[population density]] was 47.4/km² (122.8/mi²). There were 398 housing units at an average density of 16.6/km² (42.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the Indian reservation was 58.61% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 9.31% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 27.33% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.53% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.09% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.32% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.32% of the population.
+
;Other
 
 
There were 398 households out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 19.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.36.
 
 
 
In the Indian reservation the population was spread out with 34.3% under the age of 18, 13.7% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 14.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.
 
 
 
The median income for a household in the Indian reservation was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $38,333. Males had a median income of $33,281 versus $25,074 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the Indian reservation was $14,427. About 9.9% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
 
 
 
 
There are several bands, groups, and organizations without federal recognition:
 
There are several bands, groups, and organizations without federal recognition:
 
* Skaroreh Katenuaka at Tosneoc Village in [[Elm City, North Carolina]]
 
* Skaroreh Katenuaka at Tosneoc Village in [[Elm City, North Carolina]]
Line 152: Line 100:
 
* Hatteras Tuscarora at [[Cape Fear, North Carolina]]
 
* Hatteras Tuscarora at [[Cape Fear, North Carolina]]
 
* Tuscarora Nation of Indians of the Carolinas at [[Maxton, North Carolina]]
 
* Tuscarora Nation of Indians of the Carolinas at [[Maxton, North Carolina]]
* [http://www.skarorehkatenuakanation.org Skaroreh Katenuaka Nation] at [[Robeson County, North Carolina]]
+
* Skaroreh Katenuaka Nation at [[Robeson County, North Carolina]]
 
 
It has also been suggested that the Tuscarora are among the ancestors of the [[Lumbee]], a tribe in [[Robeson County, North Carolina]].
 
 
 
==Notes==
 
<references/>
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
* Hodge, Frederick Webb. [1906] 2006. ''Handbook Of American Indians V2: North Of Mexico Part Two''. Kessinger Publishing, LLC. ISBN 1428645586.
+
*Graymont, Barbara. 1972. ''The Iroquois in the American Revolution''. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. ISBN 0815600836.
* Waldman, Carl. 2006. ''Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes''. New York, NY: Checkmark Books. ISBN 978-0816062744
+
*Graymont, Barbara (ed.). 1994. ''Fighting Tuscarora: The Autobiography of Chief Clinton Rickard''. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. ISBN 0815601905.
* Graymont, Barbara (ed.). 1994. ''Fighting Tuscarora: The Autobiography of Chief Clinton Rickard''. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. ISBN 0815601905
+
*Hodge, Frederick Webb. [1906] 2006. ''Handbook Of American Indians V2: North Of Mexico Part Two''. Kessinger Publishing, LLC. ISBN 1428645586.
* Printup, Bryan, and Neil Patterson Jr. 2007. ''Tuscarora Nation (Images of America)''. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0738549538
+
*Kelsay, Isabel. 1984. ''Joseph Brant 1743-1780 Man of Two Worlds''. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. ISBN 0815601824.
* Pritzker, Barry M. 2000. ''A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples.'' Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195138771
+
*Lawson, John. [1718] 2007. ''History of Carolina''. Library Reprints. ISBN 978-0722249963.
* Graymont, Barbara. 1972. ''The Iroquois in the American Revolution''. ISBN 0815600836
+
*Norton, Mary Beth, Carol Sheriff, David M. Katzman, David W. Blight, and Howard Chudacoff. 2007. ''A People and a Nation: A History of the United States,'' 8th Edition. Wadsworth Publishing. ISBN 978-0618951963.
* Kelsay, Isabel. 1984. ''Joseph Brant 1743-1780 Man of Two Worlds'' ISBN 0815601824
+
*Printup, Bryan, and Neil Patterson Jr. 2007. ''Tuscarora Nation (Images of America)''. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0738549538.
* Taylor, Alan. 2006. ''The Divided Ground''. ISBN 0679454713
+
*Pritzker, Barry M. 2000. ''A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples''. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195138771.
* Norton, Mary Beth, Carol Sheriff, David M. Katzman, David W. Blight, and Howard Chudacoff. 2007. ''A People and a Nation: A History of the United States, 8th Edition''. Wadsworth Publishing. ISBN 978-0618951963
+
*Taylor, Alan. 2006. ''The Divided Ground''. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0679454713.
* Lawson, John. [1718, 1860] 2007. ''History of Carolina''. Library Reprints. ISBN 978-0722249963
+
*Waldman, Carl. 2006. ''Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes''. New York, NY: Checkmark Books. ISBN 978-0816062744.
 +
*Zieber, Maureen. 2009. [http://www.suite101.com/content/gustoweh-worn-by-the-haudenosaunee-a102277 Gustoweh Worn by the Haudenosaunee] Native American History, ''Suite 101''. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
* [http://www.sixnations.ca Six Nations of the Grand River website]
+
All links retrieved July 29, 2011.
 +
*[http://www.sixnations.ca Six Nations of the Grand River website]
 
*[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ncbertie/tuscarra.htm#history History of the Tuscarora]
 
*[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ncbertie/tuscarra.htm#history History of the Tuscarora]
 
*[http://www.tuscaroras.com/ Tuscaroras and the Six Nations]
 
*[http://www.tuscaroras.com/ Tuscaroras and the Six Nations]
*[http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/ncsites/Tusca1.htm Catechna and The Tuscarora War]
+
*[http://www.nchistoricsites.org/bath/tuscarora.htm The Tuscarora War, 1711-1715]
*[http://www.skarorehkatenuakanation.org Skaroreh Katenuaka Nation website]
+
 
 
*[http://www.coastalcarolinaindians.com/ Coastal Carolina Indian Center]
 
*[http://www.coastalcarolinaindians.com/ Coastal Carolina Indian Center]
 
*[http://www.waywelivednc.com/before-1770/tuscarora-war.htm The Tuscarora War]
 
*[http://www.waywelivednc.com/before-1770/tuscarora-war.htm The Tuscarora War]
 
*[http://tuscaroraenvironment.com Tuscarora Environment]
 
*[http://tuscaroraenvironment.com Tuscarora Environment]
 +
*[http://www.epa.gov/region02/nations/tusca.htm Tuscarora information]
 +
*[http://tuscaroras.com/jtwigle/pages/tuscarora-rez.shtml  Tuscarora reservation land]
 +
*[http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/legends/tuscarora.htm  Early Tuscarora history]
  
* [http://www.epa.gov/region02/nations/tusca.htm Tuscarora information]
+
{{Iroquois Confederacy}}
* [http://tuscaroras.com/jtwigle/pages/tuscarora-rez.shtml  Tuscarora reservation land]
 
* [http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/legends/tuscarora.htm  Early Tuscarora history]
 
 
 
<br/>{{Iroquois Confederacy}}
 
 
{{Credits|Tuscarora_(tribe)|146049691|Tuscarora_language|237666252|Tuscarora_War|239552587|Six_Nations_of_the_Grand_River_First_Nation|246763708|Tuscarora_Reservation,_New_York|242759082}}
 
{{Credits|Tuscarora_(tribe)|146049691|Tuscarora_language|237666252|Tuscarora_War|239552587|Six_Nations_of_the_Grand_River_First_Nation|246763708|Tuscarora_Reservation,_New_York|242759082}}

Revision as of 20:04, 23 September 2011


Tuscarora
Total population
7,500+
Regions with significant populations
Flag of United States United States (New York)
Flag of United States United States (North Carolina)
Flag of Canada Canada (Ontario)
Languages
English, Tuscarora
Religions
Christianity, Longhouse religion, Other Indigenous Religion
Related ethnic groups
other Iroquoian peoples

The Tuscarora are an American Indian tribe originally in North Carolina, which moved north to New York, and then partially into Canada. Their name derives from their use of hemp, meaning "hemp gatherers." Encountering European settlers in the seventeenth century, the Tuscarora maintained harmonious relationships with them for half a century. They were willing to share with them what they had.

However, the settlers not only brought diseases which reduced the Tuscarora population, they also began to take their lands and kidnapped and sold into slavery their women and children. Seeing no way to deal with the situation other than violence, the southern group of Tuscarora enlisted the help of other native Algonquian tribes and an uprising took place, leading to the Tuscarora War. The outcome was that the Tuscarora became the first native people to be dispossessed of their land during colonization, and they walked north to New York in the early eighteenth century to join the Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenonsaunee). Accepted by the confederacy, they have been part of the Six Nations ever since, together with the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, and Seneca.

The Iroquois, too, faced problems as the American Revolutionary War came to their region. After the war, those who had sided with the British moved north to Canada, where they were given land. Tuscarora live on that reserve today. A substantial portion of Tuscaroras joined the Oneidas in supporting the Americans, however, and they remained on land in New York.

Today, Tuscarora live in Canada and New York. Despite their difficult past, they continue as a sovereign nation with the Haudenosaunee government including chiefs, clan mothers, and faithkeepers. They maintain their culture and traditions, such as playing the traditional form of lacrosse called "stickball," traditionally used as a method of setting inter-tribal disputes without the violence of war.

History

Pre-contact distribution of Tuscarora

The Tuscarora originally inhabited the coastal plain of what became North Carolina.

The first successful and permanent settlement of North Carolina by Europeans began in earnest in 1653. The Tuscarora lived in peace with the European settlers who arrived in North Carolina for over 50 years at a time when nearly every other colony in America was actively involved in some form of conflict with the American Indians. In his History of Carolina originally published in 1718, Lawson wrote about the Tuscarora, with whom he was well-acquainted, finding them:

really better to us than we have been to them, as they always freely give us of their victuals at their quarters, while we let them walk by our doors hungry, and do not often relieve them. We look upon them with disdain and scorn, and think them little better than beasts in human form; while with all our religion and education, we possess more moral deformities and vices than these people do (Lawson 1718).

However, the arrival of the settlers was ultimately disastrous for the aboriginal inhabitants of North Carolina. There were two primary contingents of Tuscarora, a Northern group led by Chief Tom Blunt and a Southern group led by Chief Hancock. Chief Blunt occupied the area around what is present-day Bertie County on the Roanoke River; Chief Hancock was closer to New Bern, North Carolina, occupying the area south of the Pamplico River (now the Pamlico River). While Chief Blunt became close friends with the Blount family of the Bertie region, Chief Hancock found his villages raided and his people frequently kidnapped and sold into slavery. Both groups were heavily impacted by the introduction of European diseases, and both were rapidly having their lands stolen by the encroaching settlers. Ultimately, Chief Hancock felt there was no alternative but to attack the settlers.

The Southern Tuscarora, led by Chief Hancock, worked in conjunction with local Algonquian tribes, including the Pamlico, the Coree, the Mattamuskeet, and the Matchepungoes, to attack the settlers in a wide range of locations in a short time period. The first attacks began on September 22, 1711, beginning the Tuscarora War.

Governor Edward Hyde called out the militia of North Carolina and attacked the Southern Tuscarora and other tribes in Craven County at Fort Narhantes on the banks of the Neuse River in 1712. Many were killed and prisoners, largely women and children, were sold into slavery.

Fort Neoheroka Historical Marker.jpg

Chief Blunt was then offered the chance to control the entire Tuscarora tribe if he assisted the settlers in putting down Chief Hancock. Chief Blunt was able to capture Chief Hancock, and the settlers executed him in 1712. In 1713, the Southern Tuscaroras lost Fort Neoheroka, located in Greene County, with over a thousand killed or captured (Norton et al, 2007). It was at this point that the majority of the Southern Tuscarora began migrating to New York to escape the settlers in North Carolina.

The remaining Tuscarora signed a treaty with the settlers in June 1718 granting them a tract of land on the Roanoke River in what is now Bertie County. This was the area already occupied by Tom Blunt, who had taken on the name Blount and was recognized by the Legislature of North Carolina as King Tom Blount. The remaining Southern Tuscarora were removed from their homes on the Pamlico River and made to move to Bertie. In 1722, Bertie County was chartered, and over the next several decades the remaining Tuscorara lands were continually diminished, sold off in deals that were frequently designed to take advantage of the American Indians.

Did you know?
After conflict with European settlers the Tuscarora left their lands in North Carolina and settled in New York where they became the sixth tribe to join the Iroquois Confederacy

After the Tuscarora War most of the tribe removed from North Carolina to New York to become the sixth nation of the Iroquois, settling near the Oneidas on land given them by the Seneca nation. The migration period took approximately 90 years to complete. Some lived in Pennsylvania for a time before moving to New York. Others, who had not been involved in the uprisings, were permitted to remain in their villages in North Carolina, but later most joined the tribe in New York. To this day there are still many people in North Carolina and other states who claim Tuscarora descent.

A substantial portion of the Tuscaroras sided with the Oneida nation against the rest of the League of the Six Nations by fighting for the U.S. government during the American Revolutionary War. Those that remained allies of the Crown later followed Joseph Brant into Ontario, Canada.

In 1803, the final contingent of the Tuscarora migrated to New York to join the tribe at their reservation in Niagara County, under a treaty directed by Thomas Jefferson. By 1804, only a few scattered families remained in North Carolina. In 1831, the Tuscarora sold the remaining rights to their lands in North Carolina, which had been reduced from their original 56,000 acres (227 km²) to a mere 2000 acres (8 km²).

Culture

The Tuscarora originated in the area of the Atlantic coastal plain that became North Carolina. Their lifestyle there included hunting and gathering, as well as some farming. Fishing contributed significantly to their diet, as they could fish both in the rivers and gather shellfish and other fish from the ocean (Waldman 2006).

In the early eighteenth century, after the end of the Tuscarora War, most of the tribe removed from North Carolina to New York to become the sixth nation of the Iroquois Confederacy. The Tuscarora adoped Gayanashagowa, the Great Law of Peace—the founding constitution. This established the government of the nations, the duties and procedures of chiefs and clan mothers, and methods of resolving disputes among member nations. It is codified with the help of a memory device in the form of special beads called wampum that have inherent spiritual value.

At that time they adopted more aspects of the Iroquois culture, participating in Haudenosaunee rituals and living in long houses—long lodges that were extended as the families grew, also used for ceremonies and council meetings. Their language also evolved as a branch of the Iroquoian languages.

The men also adopted the use of gustoweh, feathered caps constructed with turkey feathers. Each of the tribes in the Iroquois Nation had a different style of gustoweh. The Tuscarora style had no upright eagle feathers, whereas those of the other nations had one, two, or three such feathers in addition to the turkey feathers.

Language

The Tuscarora language, known as Skarohreh is a member of the Northern branch of the Iroquoian languages. It is spoken in southern Ontario, Canada, and northwestern New York around Niagara Falls, in the United States. The original homeland of the Tuscarora was in eastern North Carolina, in and around the Goldsboro, Kinston, and Smithfield areas, and some, though few, still live in this region. The name Tuscarora comes from the tribe's name and means "hemp people," after the Indian hemp or milkweed that they use in many aspects of their society. Skarureh refers to the long shirt worn as part of the men's regalia, hence "long shirt people."

The Tuscarora language can appear complex to those unfamiliar with it, more in terms of the grammar than the sound system. Many ideas can be expressed in a single word, and most words involve several components that must be considered before speaking (or writing). It is written using mostly symbols from the Roman alphabet, with some variations, additions, and diacritics.

Tuscarora is a living but severely endangered language. As of the mid-1970s, only about 52 people spoke the language on the Tuscarora Reservation (Lewiston, New York) and the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation (near Brantford, Ontario). The Tuscarora School in Lewiston has striven to keep the language alive, teaching children from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade. Despite this, only a dozen speakers remained in the 1990s, all of whom are older adults.

Religion

Stonish Giants, engraving by David Cusick from Sketches of the Ancient History of the Six Nations

The Iroquois believed in a supreme spirit, Orenda, the "Great Spirit," from whom all other spirits were derived. Legends tell of Atahensic (also called Ataensic), the sky goddess, who fell to the earth at the time of creation and was carried down to the land by the wings of birds. After her fall from the sky she gave birth to Hahgwehdiyu and Hahgwehdaetgah, twin sons. She died in childbirth and was considered the goddess of pregnancy, fertility, and feminine skills. Hahgwehdiyu put a plant into his mothers lifeless body and from it grew maize as a gift to humankind. Hahgwehdaetgah his twin was an evil spirit.

The Tuscarora, together all Haudenosaunee, believed that winter is a time of death in which Mother Earth goes into a long slumber and many plants die, but when spring arrives and nature begins to flourish, she has woken up and given life once again. Celebration of the maple sap and strawberries as well as corn planting were considered spiritual in nature. Also, in the winter, there was an important eight-day festival to give thanks and to forget past wrongs (Pritzker 2000).

In the early nineteenth century the teachings of Handsome Lake became popular among Tuscarora. Handsome Lake was a Seneca who taught about Jesus and also blended the traditional celebrations with Christian-style confessions of sin and urged Native Americans to stay away from alcohol. His teachings eventually were incorporated into the Longhouse religion, which continues to have followers today.

Contemporary Tuscarora

The Tuscarora were the first native people to be dispossessed of their land during colonization, and they walked north in the early eighteenth century to join the Haudenosaunee. Accepted into the Iroquois Confederacy they have been part of the Six Nations ever since.

Since 1927, Tuscarora have joined the annual Border Crossing Celebration founded by Chief Clinton Rickard to promote the unrestricted crossings between the United States and Canada, as guaranteed in the Jay Treaty of 1794 and the Treaty of Ghent of 1814. Rickard founded the Indian Defense League of America, which sponsors the Celebration, to resist the erosion of native rights and promote their culture (Graymont 1994).

Today the Tuscarora prosper, living in the reservations of Ontario, Canada and New York state. They continue their culture and traditions, government through chiefs, clan mothers, and faithkeepers. They continue to fish in the Niagara River and play their traditional game of lacrosse (also known as "stick ball"), a part of their heritage that is far more than just a game, serving religious and social purposes as well as being played to settle inter-tribal disputes, and essential function in keeping the Six Nations of the Iroquois together (Printup and Patterson 2007).

Six Nations of the Grand River

Six Nations of the Grand River is the name applied to two contiguous Indian reserves southeast of Brantford, Ontario, Canada.

The original reserve was granted by Frederick Haldimand under the Haldimand Proclamation of October 1784 to Joseph Brant and his Iroquois followers in appreciation of their support for the Crown during the American Revolution. In 1785, a census showed that 1,843 Natives lived there which included 448 Mohawk, 381 Cayuga, 245 Onondaga, 162 Oneida, 129 Tuscarora, and 78 Seneca. There were also 400 from other tribes including Delawares, Nanticokes, Tutelos, and even some Creeks and Cherokees (Kelsay 1984). Joseph Brant also invited several white families to live on the grant, particularly former members of Brant's Volunteers and Butler's Rangers.

Today, Six Nations of the Grand River is the most populous reserve in Canada, with a recorded population in 2001 of 21,474. The reserve has both a traditional Iroquois council of chiefs and an elected band council conforming to Canadian government requirements.

Tuscarora Nation at Lewiston, New York

The Tuscarora Reservation is an Indian reservation located in the Town of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 1,138 at the 2000 census.

The reservation is a composite holding derived from land given to the tribe the Seneca, land donated by the Holland Land Company, and Trust territory held by the federal government.

Other

There are several bands, groups, and organizations without federal recognition:

  • Skaroreh Katenuaka at Tosneoc Village in Elm City, North Carolina
  • Southern Band Tuscarora Indian Tribe at Windsor, North Carolina
  • Hatteras Tuscarora at Cape Fear, North Carolina
  • Tuscarora Nation of Indians of the Carolinas at Maxton, North Carolina
  • Skaroreh Katenuaka Nation at Robeson County, North Carolina

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Graymont, Barbara. 1972. The Iroquois in the American Revolution. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. ISBN 0815600836.
  • Graymont, Barbara (ed.). 1994. Fighting Tuscarora: The Autobiography of Chief Clinton Rickard. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. ISBN 0815601905.
  • Hodge, Frederick Webb. [1906] 2006. Handbook Of American Indians V2: North Of Mexico Part Two. Kessinger Publishing, LLC. ISBN 1428645586.
  • Kelsay, Isabel. 1984. Joseph Brant 1743-1780 Man of Two Worlds. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. ISBN 0815601824.
  • Lawson, John. [1718] 2007. History of Carolina. Library Reprints. ISBN 978-0722249963.
  • Norton, Mary Beth, Carol Sheriff, David M. Katzman, David W. Blight, and Howard Chudacoff. 2007. A People and a Nation: A History of the United States, 8th Edition. Wadsworth Publishing. ISBN 978-0618951963.
  • Printup, Bryan, and Neil Patterson Jr. 2007. Tuscarora Nation (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0738549538.
  • Pritzker, Barry M. 2000. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195138771.
  • Taylor, Alan. 2006. The Divided Ground. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0679454713.
  • Waldman, Carl. 2006. Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes. New York, NY: Checkmark Books. ISBN 978-0816062744.
  • Zieber, Maureen. 2009. Gustoweh Worn by the Haudenosaunee Native American History, Suite 101. Retrieved September 23, 2011.

External links

All links retrieved July 29, 2011.


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