Five Nations

The Five Nations refers to the original group of five Indigenous nations: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. These nations formed a political and cultural alliance known as the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy, primarily in what is now New York State. They united for mutual defense, decision-making, and maintaining peace among themselves. Historically, this confederation has played a significant role in regional diplomacy, governance, and cultural preservation, serving as an influential example of Indigenous sovereignty and organizational harmony well before European contact.