The Role Of The Corn In The Seneca Tribe

The Seneca tribe had a well thought out economic system that led them to live as easily as possible. Both men and women worked equally as hard to make sure everybody had food. According to Wallace, women took care of the cornfields and the men did all the hunting (24). Corn was the main food for the Seneca. There were many different ways it could be cooked, so all parts of the corn would be utilized. Corn was kept underground during winter and when corn was not in season, hunters were depended on. Wallace says “meats, fresh fruits, herb teas, fried grasshoppers, and other delicacies added spice and flavor to the diet” (24). Men hunted for deer, elk, beaver, mink, and otter (24). These were the key animals because their fur could be
traded for many other things and used for clothing. The women took care of the house while the men were away. They cooked, cleaned, and cared for the children. This is why the Iroquois, specifically, were said to be mainly matriarchal (Wallace, 28). The religious rituals as seen by the Iroquois is to prevent mental illness and social disorder (Wallace 49). Wallace states “their religion did concern itself explicitly with cathartic ways of handling existential frustration” (50). The rituals of thanksgiving and hope gave the people extra support and care, since their every day lives consisted of only working and helping others. The other rituals, fear and mourning, were called “masked medicine ceremonies”. These helped people handle different types of losses, whether it was of love, health, or loved ones (50).