Lead Question #3: How is Haudenosaunee Society Organized?

Haudenosaunee society is both inclusive and layered at the same time. People are organized into family clans as the basic social, cultural, political and spiritual unit.

While Haudenosaunee is matrilineal in descent of Clan identity and citizenship, certain families ‘hold’ leadership titles and new leaders are usually chosen from a limited number of families bloodlines. Thus, Clan Mothers and Chiefs have a different social order, and in former times, their comfort and needs were taken care of by members of their Clan, so the title holders could focus on their social and political responsibilities.

Add graphic to sow lineal descent through mother’s lines.