An Ancient Bond with the Land

People of the Longhouse

Pottery: Learning from Our Mothers

Young women and girls learned many crafts - including pottery making - from their mothers, aunts, grandmothers and other female relatives. Manufacturing techniques and decorative motifs were handed down from generation to generation.

The continuity of pottery forms and decorative motifs speaks to the importance that Iroquoian potters gave to pottery making and decoration. At the same time, the pottery shows the strength of the pupil-teacher relationship, and of the bonds between generations of women. Young girls just learning their craft made small pots. The art of pottery making evidently took some time to master.