Kate Ojibway wrote to ask about the "5 Algonquin Nations" and
the 6 of the Iroquois Nation. I am certainly no expert in
the histories of the land I live on, but a neighbour did
recently give me a copy of a federal government report on
literacy among first peoples and the preamble did mention
some details of these two groups which may be useful.
According the the history recounted in this paper, the 15th
century prophet Dekanawideh and a woman by the name of Kosaseh
founded the League of 5 Nations, with the 6th member, known
to Europeans as the Tuscarora or the "Hemp Gatherers", in 1722.
The 5 Nations, according to this paper, were formed to ensure
justice within its member nations and to extinguish those
outside of it, citing the demise of the Wendat, Attiwandaronk
and the Tiomontati during the 1640's. The charter members of
the League included the Mohawk, Oneida, Onandaga, Cayuga and
the Seneca.
The confusion with the Dancers (the A'llegonkin) is probably
geographic --- according to this paper, these included only
four member nations, the Kichesipprini, Weskarini, Kinouchepirini
and the Matouescarini.
I feel most foolish spouting all this in near complete ignorance,
but we all must start somewhere and a federal paper on literacy
is likely as good a place as any. I hope this helps in your
quest.
Gary Murphy - Cognos Incorporated | "You think you're human.
P.O.Box 9707 Ottawa K1G 3N3 | What if you've made a mistake,
(613) 738-1338 x5537 | As humans sometimes do,
bertrand.ccs.carleton.ca!cognos!garym | And you is an Angel instead?"
garym%cognos.uucp@cunews.carleton.ca | -- Sun Ra