Eastern Woodland Longhouse is a Matriarchy
Longhouses in Eastern Woodland tribes were huge, filled with members of a clan. Members of a clan were all traced back to a sole source: a woman. A clan’s lineage followed the female line, and anyone living in the longhouse had to either be a blood member of the clan on that line or marry into it. Clan members could not intermarry.
When a clan member married, the male of the partnership moved into the woman’s household to live in her longhouse with her clan. They would make a new home in one of the segments of the longhouse. The clan’s leader would manage the longhouse, taking care of all the activity within its walls. She would distribute food and coordinate the farming and other work. She would also pick the men who would serve on the tribal council.
