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Wyandot [archive]

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Wyandot (Huron)

The Wyandot nation is divided into sub-tribes also called clans. The major sub-nations of the Wyandot are the Arendahronon (rock sub-tribe), the Attigneenongnahac (bear sub-tribe), the Attignawantan (cord sub-tribe), and the Tahontaenrat (deer sub-tribe).

Traditions: The Wyandot lived in communal dwellings consisting of large log style homes . Most log houses ranged between 45-55 meters or 150- 180 ft long. They were made of slabs of bark over pole frames. During the peaceful years the Wyandot hunted and fished and used bows and arrows and spears. The Wyandot were able to catch almost anything they wanted to eat. They were a diverse group of people who lead a very diverse life and had a direct impact on the land and the people who inhabited it.

History: The Wyandot were a proud Indian nation with a well-defined governmental system. The Wyandot nation was divided into sub-tribes or clans. Their history is filled with wars, which led to loss of territory and forced many sub-tribes to relocate to safer territory. The Wyandot were not nomadic tribes; they had many great villages each with its own government representative.

The Wyandot government was divided into a republican style of government; the larger villages were captains for peace during times of conflict, each large village had a well-defined jurisdiction. The tribes in the Wyandot nation each have their own distinct past and heritage.

At the height of the Wyandot nation, it was a mighty force to be reckoned with and had an extensive territory. The Wyandot territory once spanned from the Niagara River on the east, to the St. Claire River and lake to the west, and Lake Erie on the south. The Wyandot nation lived a peaceful life and maintained their vast territory for many years. The population in 1535 numbered between 30,000-45,000. After years of warring and a epidemic in 1640 their population declines to less than 10,000.

The Wyandot nation, with all its sub-tribes and clans, was forced onto reservations, forced to relocate during the years of wars with the Iroquois nation.

Additional Reading

Huron
Wyandot Language
Eastern Woodland Tribes
Canadian Native Americans

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