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CLAN FAMILIES OF THE MOHAWK NATION

There are several Clan families with the Five Nations Confederacy. Membership to a Clan is passed hereditarily through the female line. In order to hold a Chieftainship Title, a Woman or Man must have the Birthright which is inherited through their matrilineal Clan. All observers and newcomers fall under the “Protection of the Bear Clan” unless they choose to petition for adoption into a Clan and are accepted by the people. Adopted members share every right and privilege within the Clan as members with a birthright, except that they cannot hold a hereditary Title as Female/Male Chief. 

Adopted members have Clans which are “hung about the neck” and are not passed on through matrilineal succession.

Clans are quite literally families. People of the same Clan, whether or not they are born of the same bloodline are relatives which form the collective of members to each respective Clan. People outside of an individual’s Clan are regarded as a distant relative, or cousin. Because of this, it is forbidden for two people to marry within the same Clan. The Clan family also extends to members of other Nations. Therefore, one cannot marry within the same Clan of any Nation. To do so would be considered incestuous. Clan families’ council together and also lived together in their Longhouse.

There are three Clans within the Kanienkehaka/Mohawk Nation, the Turtle, Wolf and Bear. Throughout the Five Nations Confederacy there are a number of additional Clans, however, these three Clans are found in every Nation. Members of each Clan choose representatives to speak on their behalf in council. Since the women are the progenitors of the Nation, Female Chiefs or Clan Mothers are chosen by a consensus of the collective Clan members. They are known as “Oianer” meaning “righteous/she is good”. The Clan Mothers shall select Male representatives known as “Roianer” meaning “righteous/he is good” to speak on their behalf and on the behalf of the Clan family. There are three Chieftainship Titles per Clan. Female Chiefs/Clan Mothers have the right to remove an installed Male Chief and choose a successor in the event of a death or de-horning (removing the Antlers of the Male Chief, a symbol of the Chieftainship Title).

We have posted a page for each of our three Clans explaining their role and characteristics. (See page menu at the top)