Native Names on Maps

Although this is not a map of the Adirondacks, Marc Lescarbot’s map of Canada is the first to include Native American names. The Haudenosaunee were called Iroquois at the time, however this term can be offensive, as it was a name given by the Algonquains to mean “murderers” during a time of conflict between the two tribes. Since this derogatory term was the first to be recorded, rather than the preferred name “Haudenosaunee,” it has unfortunately become a more common name. The name Haudenosaunee means “people of the long house.” This name honors the culture of the tribe while the term Iroquois can be considered insulting. This misrepresentation contributes to the erasure of Haudenosaunee culture.

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