Question

How did Iroquois women influence the men on the Iroquois League council?

Answer 1

Tribal Council was dominated by male speakers, but the women decided which men should be speakers. If the chosen man expressed opinions that clashed with those of the Womens’ Council, they could replace him with someone who more closely represented their views. If the Tribal Council took a course of action that the women disagreed with, such as a raid, the women might simply refuse to give them any food for the journey.