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The Role of the Iroquois Clan Mother
The Peace Maker selected Chiefs and Clan Mothers to represent the
clans. The oldest woman of the clan is called the Clan Mother. The
clan mother, whose position is hereditary, is responsible for the
welfare of the clan. She names all the people of the clan; she holds
a position in nominating, installing and removing the male chief,
called Hoyaneh, meaning Caretakers of the Peace. She also monitors
his actions and counsels the people of her clan. Her job in the
past was to arrange marriages, counsel members, select the male
candidate for chief, monitor his actions and remove him from office
if necessary. The Clan Mother's title rests within the clan and
it is usually passed on to her female relatives, looking first at
her eldest sisters, other sisters, then her eldest daughter and
other daughters to find the one deemed most appropriate to become
the next Clan Mother.
The rights of the women within a clan include the following:
Descent of blood that determines citizenship.
Possession of official titles for clan mothers, chiefs, faithkeepers,
pine tree chiefs and war chiefs.
Own the home and all of the furnishings.
Children belong to her family.
Use of clan lands.
Food distribution .
Right to nominate, confirm, and depose male chiefs.
Right to adopt foreigners or prisoners.
Power to forbid brothers and sons from going to war.
Power to maintain the national resources.
Right to burial grounds for sons, brothers, daughters and sons.
Power to grant life or death of prisoners.
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