Haudenosaunee Clan Mother
Clan Mothers, or Iakoianes,[1] are a part of the Haudenosaunee government.[1] Clan Mothers have the power to choose the successor of a chief or depose a chief if he is believed to be behaving improperly.[1]
The title of Clan Mother is passed down along hereditary lines, going first to an oldest sister. If there is no older sister, then the title is given to the oldest daughter.[1] In addition to selecting chiefs, Clan Mothers also name children in the clan and make sure that when two people are married, they are not from the same clan.[1] According to the Confederacy’s history, the first Clan Mother was Jigonsaseh, who, along with Hiawatha and the Great Peacemaker, created the Haudenosaunee government around the 12th century.[2] In the past, the leader of the Clan Mothers was named after her.[2]
List of current Clan Mothers as of 2023
| Chief Title[3] | English Name[3] | Clan[3] | Nation[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dyoninho’ga’we’ | Evelyn Jonathan | Wolf | Seneca |
| Ganohgi’da:wi | Janet Hill | Snipe | Seneca |
| Sadyenawat | Linda Logan | Bear | Seneca |
| Ga’nogae | Darlene J | Turtle | Seneca |
| Sag,’jo:wa | Luanne Jamieson | Hawk | Seneca |
| Sganyadeae:yo | Darlene Jonathan | Turtle | Seneca |
| Desgahe | Carol Jacobs | Bear | Cayuga |
| Deyotowehgoh | Lori Froman | Wolf | Cayuga |
| Hagya;drohne | Julie Bomberry | Turtle | Cayuga |
| Soyo:wi:s | Pam Tallchief | Bear | Cayuga |
| Gada:gwa:se | Cora Harris | Bear | Cayuga |
| Gaji’nodawehe | Janace Henry | Deer | Cayuga |
| Haga’e,yok | Chris Smoke | Bear | Cayuga |
| Sganawadih | Eileen Jacobs | Turtle | Onondaga |
| Sagoge,he: | Karen Webster | Eel | Onondaga |
| Sodegwa:se,: | Virginia Abrams | Eel | Onondaga |
| Hoyo:ny,nih: | Francine Bush | Eel | Onondaga |
| Hahi:hoh | Gloria Thomas | Deer | Onondaga |
| Gawe,ne,se,:doh | Amy Silversmith | Deer | Onondaga |
| Honowiyehdi | Josetta Skye | Wolf | Onondaga |
| Awe’ge,hyat | Lucille Jamieson | Wolf | Onondaga |
| Honya’daji:wak | Ruby Williams | Wolf | Onondaga |
| Dehatgahdos | Crystal Laforme | Beaver | Onondaga |
| Gane’se:he: | Sharon Williams | Wolf | Onondaga |
| Hodatsehdeh | Beatrice Nicholas | Wolf | Oneida |
| Ganohgwe’yo:doh | Joanne Summers | Wolf | Oneida |
| Deyoha’gwe:de | Dawn Chrisjohn | Wolf | Oneida |
| Sonohse:s | Marlene Green | Turtle | Oneida |
| Thanahak tha | Marla Summers | Turtle | Oneida |
| Atya’tantha | Deanna Chrisjohn | Turtle | Oneida |
| Dehadahohde:yo | Shirley Antone | Bear | Oneida |
| Hanya’dasa:ye | Andrea Chrisjohn | Bear | Oneida |
| Howatsadehoh | Mary Sandy | Bear | Oneida |
| Sahrehowaneh | Angela Elijah | Wolf | Mohawk |
| Orenrehgowah | Julia Jacobs | Wolf | Mohawk |
| Dehharagereneh | Louise McDonald-Herne | Bear | Mohawk |
References
- “Government.” Haudenosaunee Confederacy, May 2, 2018. https://www.haudenosauneeconfederacy.com/government/.
- Mann, Barbara; Johansen, Bruce Elliott (2000). Encyclopedia of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy). Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 122–131. ISBN 978-0-313-30880-2.
- Communications. "Current Clan Mothers and Chiefs". Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Retrieved 2023-07-18.