Native American Women

In the first chapter of Born of Liberty, it focused on the first women in Native American tribes. About 20,000 years ago women had different value in each tribe. For example, in this chapter it talks about the Iroquois tribe. Women gathered seeds, fruits and other food necessities. Man were frequently away for long time and women farmed in a very organized matter. They were very powerful and controlled their tribe. They were very well respected. Daughters became the most important people in the tribe. They controlled the land and the distribution of all food.
It talked about how Algonkian Indian women seized the opportunity to start trading in European goods.  Among the group of Indian women, there were some who married fur traders that created economic and cultural pattern. The marriages that occurred between Indian women and fur traders resulted a very strong and lasting alliances. They lived in social and economic structure that was based on their husbands work in the European trade. When the men went to Europe to trade, most women were abandoned and didn’t see their husbands for a while. Indian women were very active in trading. They interpreted linguistic and diplomatic abilities to their husbands. Using their skill they trapped small animals.
Around the 19^th century the Lakota culture arose. There were strong separation between men and women. There was something called “Double Women Dreamer”. They Lakota women believed that dreams of Double Women cause them to behave in aggressive masculine way. They had the power to almost put a spell like on men and seduce them. They were very determined and were fine to live alone in wilderness. They were warrior women and manly hearted.

In conclusion, Europeans couldn’t be a strong women tribe like the Iroquois.  The reading of the chapter was very easy and it taught the reader various points about women. It was very interesting to learn more about these Native American women. It almost gets you addicted to learn more and more. Do more research about these tribes. The Iroquois held a strong example for how a women can play an important part in democracy and politics. The gender difference did not allow them to do something but instead it pushed them to become leaders.