Meaning of 'Adirondack'

[SacandagaSchout]

Northcountryman--I believe they are different language families, perhaps with a common ancestor, sort of like Romance languages and Germanic languages both being descended from a common Indo-European ancestor language. Maybe you're thinking of the word "Mohawk" itself being from the Mohican (Algonquin) word for that tribe, whereas the Mohawk call themselves "Kanienʼkehá꞉ka" (copy-pasted from Wikipedia so I don't know if that's accurate spelling or punctuation).

Woodly, you may be right that the Seneca had a larger population. Which is interesting because I believe the Mohawk had an outsized role in the five nations (I may be wrong, it’s been a little while since I’ve read on the subject), with the most military muscle and the most influence on confederacy decisionmaking. Another Euro-centric analogy but it might be like the relationship of the United States to the rest of the allies in World War 2: nominally equal but practically more influential.

[Tug Hill]

Yes, according to Sir William Johnson, the head of all Native American affairs in North America, for the King of England, and who was also a adopted Sachem in the Mohawk tribe. The Seneca and the Mohawks were the dominant tribes, the Onondaga’s were the keepers of the council fire, and the Oneidas and Cayuga’s were considered the little brothers.

[Woodly]

Originally Posted by SacandagaSchout

Northcountryman--I believe they are different language families, perhaps with a common ancestor, sort of like Romance languages and Germanic languages both being descended from a common Indo-European ancestor language. Maybe you're thinking of the word "Mohawk" itself being from the Mohican (Algonquin) word for that tribe, whereas the Mohawk call themselves "Kanienʼkehá꞉ka" (copy-pasted from Wikipedia so I don't know if that's accurate spelling or punctuation).

Woodly, you may be right that the Seneca had a larger population. Which is interesting because I believe the Mohawk had an outsized role in the five nations (I may be wrong, it’s been a little while since I’ve read on the subject), with the most military muscle and the most influence on confederacy decisionmaking. Another Euro-centric analogy but it might be like the relationship of the United States to the rest of the allies in World War 2: nominally equal but practically more influential.

One thing with the Mohawk is they took the initial brunt of white men coming from the east and for many reasons suffered the worst for it.

[dockless]

Hawk could help with this subject. Too bad he's been gone for a while..... must be busy.

Here's a good place go to talk about the history of the area:
www.sixnationsindianmuseum.com/
They're very well informed and willing to discuss the subjects in this thread.

Keep in mind that as far as native populations are concerned, the entire indigenous populations of North, Central and South America was decimated by European disease. And it continued for several hundred years after the arrival of the Spanish.
Much like the current virus will quite likely continue to be a threat to the worlds population for hundreds of years from now.

[Schultzz]

Actually the Mohawk were known to eat bark too. Or maybe they just barked at the moon. Seneca's too. The bark of sassafras made good medicinal tea. Been there done that. !st Nations used bark for different ailments.

[MtnManJohn]

I just stumbled on this thread. Regarding the origin and meaning of "Adirondack," there is no conclusive answer. Historians differ on this, even if it was a derisive term. If you are interested in an in-depth (and, IMHO, most thorough) discussion of this topic, see:

"Adirondack: Of Indians and Mountains, 1535-1838" (2007) by Stephen B. Sulavik

[RichieC]

The name "Iroquois " ("black snake", or "killer people") of was a derogatory name used by enemies ( Algonquins and Heurons) of the Haudenosaunee, which means "People of the Longhouse" or "They Are Building a Long House". Mohawks were the keepers of the eastern door, Senecas keepers of the western door. The entire corridor a big long house. Parts & concepts of their laws made it into our constitution.

Haudenosaunee=
Hoo-De-Nah-SHOW-neee


Interesting:
http://www.pbs.org/native-america/bl...-us-democracy/

[Northcountryman]

So youre saying that the Iroquois never referred to themselves as ""Iroquois" then? That was sort of a pejorative label ascribed to them by neighboring enemy tribes? Theire official name for themselves then was Haudenosaunee??

Great post!! thanks for sharing