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Overview Trading raw materials (oil, timber, iron, coal, silver, gold and copper)and foodstuffs (buffalo, cattle, corn, wheat, and salt) with both these countries, the Iroquois are able to acquire advanced weaponry and other modern devices. However many of the tribes to the west are not as technologically advanced.
At a biennial meeting a ruler is elected from the tribal council. He serves at the discretion of the council. The current ruler is John Ross of the Cherokee nation. Being of mixed blood he understands both the white man’s world as well as the Iroquois. He has been the leader for over 30 years and is well respected among all nations. With two sons married into western tribes he has tried to solidify ties between these vastly different cultures. However, his peaceful ways are often viewed as weakness among the more hawkish tribes in the west. top
The foundation of the government is the fireside. This is comprised of a mother and all of her children. Each fireside is a part of the Ohwachira, a large family group that traces its relationship through the females. Two or more Ohwachira make up a clan and several clans constitute a nation within the league. All authority stems from the Ohwachira and the women who lead them. They are the ones who select the male delegates to represent them in the council. These are usually an elder son. They also select 50 sachems who make up the ruling council. These sachems are generally appointed for life, but can be deposed if they are proving unsatisfactory in their decision making. A second group of sachems are chosen from the best warriors and intellectuals. They are called Pine Tree Chiefs and have a voice in the council and all league meetings. They serve at the discretion of the Ohwachira who selected them. Votes in council matters is done by tribe. Each tribe has one vote. It must be a unanimous vote for a declaration of war against a foreign nation. Minor skirmishes along border lines are considered normal international disputes and do not constitute war. top
Although many geographic locations mean cultural differences, there are also unifying characteristics among all nations within the league. The most unifying is the clan system. All tribes have clans, such as wolf, turtle, bear, fox, turtle, thunderbird or snake. A symbol of that clan is given to a person at their naming ceremony and it is carried with them throughout their life. When a man marries, he lives with his wife’s clan, but keeps his own clan identity. His children, however, carry the clan identity of their mother and owe allegiance to that clan and from that Ohwachira a man can be selected to serve on the council. All males, regardless of tribe, go on a dream quest when they come of age, usually at 16. They travel if necessary to a wilderness area to spend a month living off of the land. They build sweat lodges and during the purification ceremony, they go into a dream-like trance. While in this trance they are met by the animal that will be their personal totem, their guide to the supernatural world. The link between this animal and the man is stronger than that with any other living entity and will only be broken if he kills one of its kind. To prevent the loss of their guide they never harm it or eat of it. It becomes sacred to them. The League has a written language, created by the Cherokee. They have created an information bunker in each major city. These bunkers are connected through telephone, computer and telegraph lines. Information is sent into the capital and redistributed for printing in the major cities throughout the country. The computer network is used by the tribal council to relay information on border disputes and military tactics as well as council decisions, treaty agreements and declarations of war. Their political, social and religious center is Cahokia on the Mississippi River just north of the Ohio river. It is a very old city, dating from about 1000 AD. It is surrounded by fertile farmland that supports its population. top
The Iroquois live an animistic religion. Each animal is a spirit, most are good, like personal totem and clan symbols. The coyote, the trickster, is universally accepted as the symbol for evil. The people have a mystical link with the animals. This allows them to communicate with them, control them at times and use them to their advantage in battles with foreign enemies. The Iroquois also practice ancestor worship. The sweat lodge is the place where ancestors will appear to those who seek their advice. Several elders will gather and ask the spirits for guidance. The spirits of deeply respected leaders and war chiefs are called upon in times of trouble. top
The laws of the Iroquois are practical and punishment for infractions is swift. Most penalties call for restitution and servitude. For repeat offenders or particularly heinous crimes a person can be banished from the city and left to fend for himself in the wilderness. Capital punishment is reserved for those who have endangered the clan through acts of treason or sabotage. In each major city a council of elders hears complaint and passes judgement. They record their cases and judgements, and at the bi-annual meeting of the League they meet to discuss various cases, verdicts and punishments. When judgements are agreed upon, they are added to the code of laws and punishments. These councils are separate from the Tribal Council and only consult them if an agreement can not be met among the Elders. For all intents and purposes they are autonomous. top
The magic of the Iroquois is as old as the oldest tribe, the Lenape. It dates back to the first group of people who traversed the Bering Strait to enter the new world. During that trek as the leader fell in exhaustion, he dreamed of a bear who could talk to him and told him where his people could hide from the coming storm. The bear stayed with the small band of people, talking to the leader, showing him food, water and shelter. Over the centuries it was found that some people had a greater affinity to the animals and could call them to them and control them. These people joined into a society, the Midewinin, The Grand Medicine Society. To the outside world they are healers using spiritual methods to cure disease and heal wounds. But in their secret meetings they hone their skills, expanding their circle of animal contacts and initiate new members to strengthen their power. Examples of Iroquois Magic: Trivial: Tracking, plant and animal identification Minor: Absolute silence in stalking of game and enemies, weather forecasting Moderate: Healing of sick and wounded, causing disease in enemies, communicate with animals and see through their eyes Superior: Performed only by the Midewinin: Summon spirits of ancestors, bring forth storm clouds, control animals to do their bidding, spying, delivering messages and even creating stampedes Legendary: Performed only by the Midewinin: Summoning of the Great Piasa. The Piasa lives in the Great Rocky Mountains. It is half bird with a large sharp beak and huge feathered wings that allow silent flight. It is half dragon, covered with scales and breathing fire. Created by magic and born on the westerly winds, it flies, burning all in its path, only at the beckon and call of the Midewinin. top Back to Magical Arts List
Their medical science is based on nature. They use natural medicines with great effectiveness for illnesses that can’t be cured through spiritual methods, such as those introduced by Europeans. They also export many homeopathic products. Electricity is generated by wind, solar where hydro-turbines are not feasible. Only the remotest villages are without electrical power. Diesel trains traverse the countryside. Two major lines run east and west one across the northern plains and one across the south. From Cahokia several lines radiate out to the east to the factories and for trade and travel to the United States. One major line runs north and south from Texas to Cahokia. Electric trains are used for shorter distances, carrying both passengers and freight. While trains are used extensively, the Iroquois prefer to use river power whenever possible. Loading barges with goods to float down the Missouri, Ohio and Red Rivers to the Mississippi then on to Cahokia to be shipped east to the industrial centers. The steel mills in the north and oil refineries in the south make up the majority of their industrial base. They have a huge timber industry exporting half of what they harvest each year. They have a mass communications system, using computers in the major centers for military needs and council news. They have telephones in the cities and many villages. In more remote areas, they use telegraph wires. Using computers a scientific center is developing a defensive parapet laser cannon using diamonds from west of central plains for the focusing lens. They are also working on mobile units of a similar nature. top
Each nation within the league is represented by a war chief. At this time the war chiefs are:
Their weaponry varies according to the area in which they live. The eastern tribes have plasma weapons acquired through trade, capture and sometimes thievery. They also use low flying helicopters for aerial patrols. They have body armor of steel alloys created in their own mills. Tribes further west have had less contact with Europeans and so have had less of a need for high tech weaponry. They make use of projectile launchers(rifles, cannons, bazookas, grenade launchers, etc). Trains transport the armies and APCs are used in battles. The tribes in the southern plains and the southeast have both types of technology. The largest category in their arsenal is the traditional Western gunpowder based weapons. But they also have some of the more high-tech items funneled down from tribes along the Appalachian range for protection of borders against invasion from the south, namely the Aztecs and Caribbean pirates. The Apache maintain a fleet of dirigibles for reconnaissance along the southern border. They are able to live off of the land but also carry pemmican and corn wafers. While not very tasty it is very nourishing, full of protein and carbohydrates and can sustain them on long campaigns. top
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