In Iroquois society, men and women had definite roles to play. The society stated that men were the hunters and protectors, while the women gave birth and nurtured their children. They also tilled the fields and tended the crops.

Everyone had the responsibility to provide essential tools and utensils used by the villages for everyday life. The men made all the tools necessary for the hunt. The men carved bowls, corn pounders and spoons used by the women. The women made clothing, sleeping mats, dried and smoked food, and cured the hides for clothing.

Because the roles of society were so clearly defined, the children learned their skills by gender. The female children learned the responsibilities and skills to run a household and tilling of the fields. The male children were allowed to play at hunting, and games pursuant to the male role.

Not only did the children have to learn the important life skills and trades, but also be proficient in ceremonies, dances, medicines for healing, and songs sung at special occasions, and special times of the year.

The Elders were teachers through storytelling. The stories were told mostly during the winter months. Being that the Iroquois has an oral tradition, the ceremonies had to be recited exactly as told. The stories were told year after year and passed on to generation after generation.

Village activities went hand in hand with the change of the seasons. In the Spring they gathered berries, maple sap, fished and planted. In the Summer, crops were tended and clothing made. The Fall was harvest time. The Winter was mostly hunting.

These seasonal changes defined the time for ceremonies and games which also gave them a break from their daily routine. Certain ceremonies went with the changing of the seasons also. (Growing seasons: Maple, Strawberry, Green Corn, Harvest). Ceremonies are done to give thanks to all elements of Creation.

When the men returned from the hunt, no part of the animal was wasted. The hides were used for clothing, moccasins and robes. Bones were used to make awls and sewing tools. They used the sinew for sewing. They used the brains of the deer to tan hides.

When the corn was dried and shucked, the stalks were used as medicine tubes, and the dried cobs were used as fuel. The husks were used for making summer moccasins and mats.

When the men went hunting, they killed only what was needed to feed the people. They never killed the female animals because they are the life givers.

When the crops were planted, they cleared and tilled just enough land to plant their food to get them through the winter. Corn, beans, and squash were always planted together and more often than not, they were planted in the same hills with the corn.