In search of the Iroquois
For centuries, the Iroquois have shaped the European understanding of Native Americans. The exhibition "In Search of the Iroquois" charts the cultural influence of the indigenous people from its origins to today.
Lasting impression
Few of the indigenous peoples of North America captured the imagination of Europeans as powerfully as the Iroquois. Traces of the Iroquois can be found around the world, even when only indirectly related to the original culture. Their influence stretches from the first women's rights movement to the modern construction industry and pop culture.
Behind the myth
The Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn hopes to dispel any lingering clichés about the Native Americans, including romantic images of noble savages with peace pipes and feather jewelry. What were the Iroquois really like? The exhibition "In Search of the Iroquois," which runs through August 4, brings together 500 exhibits retracing the culture of tribe.
Tough fighters and skillful diplomats
Different Iroquoian groups first lived in what is now the north-eastern United States. They then formed the Iroquois League made up of six nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora. In the 17th and 18th century the league ranked among the most powerful in North America. The colonials were terrified of Iroquoian war tactics, but admired their diplomacy and statesmanship.
Symbolic designs
The wampum belt, made from white and violet beads, symbolized important agreements between two contractual partners. According to present-day Iroquois, the famous "Two-Row" wampum belt is the emblem of an agreement with white colonialists in the 17th century: The Iroquois and non-Iroquois were to tread different, but mutually respectful paths - represented with the parallel lines on the belt.
Life in a longhouse
Unlike the Lakota people, the Iroquois didn't live in teepees but in longhouses accommodating multiple families. They called themselves "Haudenosaunee" - the "people of longhouses." A replica Iroquoian longhouse has been built at the Bundeskunsthalle museum. The 20-by-six-meter (66-by-20-foot) construction is comprised of a complex pole framework finished with panelling made of spruce bark.
Turtle power
The longhouse replica in Bonn includes an herbal medicine garden in the shape of a turtle. According to Iroquoian tradition, the world began when a pregnant woman fell from heaven, was caught by birds and landed on a turtle in the ancient ocean. She then gave birth to the twins, Taronhiawagon ("Holder of the Heavens") and Tawiskaron ("Flint").
War games
Iroquoian games always comprised of two teams, a symbol of the twins that created the world. Games often had religious or social significance, including the game of lacrosse, which is still played around the world today. The Iroquois dedicated it to the god of war. Played in preparation for war with other tribes, the game often resulted in fatalities.
Women's rights
Various political and cultural movements have taken inspiration from the Iroquois, including the women's rights movement in England and the US in the 20th century. Iroquoian women occupied a special position in society and not just because of their craftwork. The most senior woman ("matrone") was the head of the longhouse and was responsible for social and political order.
Standing out from the crowd
The hairstyles of Iroquoian men have also fascinated people around the world. US elite troops used to distinguish themselves with Iroquois haircuts. Later, "Mohawks" or "Mohicans" became a trend in the punk scene, later "updated" with neon colors. Iroquoian men shaved off most of their hair, leaving just a small lock at the back of the head.
Making a living
As the result of wars and displacement, the Iroquois lost their hold on power in the 18th and 19th centuries and were banned from reservations. They began to market their traditions and culture in tourist regions across the US and Canada. Iroquoian women sold baskets and other items decorated with beadwork, resulting in new fashion trends.
Building America
Iroquoian men took their traditional dress, rituals and martial arts to the stage in international Western shows. They were also valued in the construction industry. Since Iroquoian men generally had little fear of heights and were good at climbing, they were frequently employed in the building of skyscrapers in big American cities like New York.
Modern reflections
Today Iroquoian artists portray their lives and the modern culture of Native Americans in artworks. This image depicts a Seneca astronaut with a "Snow Snake" by Carson Waterman - one of the most well-respected artists of the Seneca Nation of Indians. In the game of "Snow Snake," a waxed wooden snake is chased through a groove in the snow. The fastest snake wins.