The Mohawks call themselves Kanien'keha:ka, pronounced ga-nee-en-geh-ha-ga, meaning People of the Flint, which is their autonym in Kanien'kéha language, reflecting their identity as keepers of flint for fire and tools. Kanien'keha:ka means People of the Flint or People of the Place of Flint, referring to flint in their original homeland in Mohawk Valley New York where flint was important for tools and fire, and they were Keepers of Eastern Door of Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The term Mohawk is exonym given by Algonquin enemies meaning man-eaters or from Mohawk pronunciation, but Mohawks call themselves Kanien'keha:ka. They are part of Haudenosaunee meaning People of Longhouse, which is what Iroquois Confederacy calls itself. So what do Mohawks call themselves is Kanien'keha:ka, People of the Flint, not Mohawk which is external name, with Kanien'keha:ka being their own language name for themselves, used in communities like Kahnawake, Akwesasne, and Kanesatake, reflecting cultural identity tied to flint and longhouse tradition as part of Iroquois Confederacy founded around 1142.
1 votes
Marked as accepted