Daughters learned all that was needed to know by merely being in the presence of the women of the clan. The girls made small attempts at making a clay pot. These attempts were their beginning into contributing to the clan.

A young girl sits near her mother who makes the collared pots for the clan when they are needed. She is curious to see if she can make one. Taking a lump of clay into her young hands, she quietly attempts to copy what her mother is doing. Her mother watches and gives instruction and encouragement. This young girl's mastery of making pots will contribute to the good of the clan for another generation.

When visiting the Noteworthy Indian Museum, you will see many examples of original and perfectly crafted reproductions that tell the story of our Mohawk Valley. The artifacts are presented in a modern comfortable environment, designed to educate and enlighten the visitor about Iriquois culture that began over 500 years ago.

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Here are a few examples of the historic items we have on display:

Dolls have played an important role in the culture of the Native American people for centuries. Many tribes from every region of the country have created their own dolls, and each are made with different materials, and all have their own special meanings.

Native American dolls were not just playthings for little girls. Many times the dolls were symbolic and held a very important spiritual significance or they were used to teach children important lessons about life and coping.

We have some fine examples of Native American dolls on display.

For the Iroquois, smoke was accociated with certain powers that connected them to the spirits of their ancestors. As the smoke rose to the sky from in their longhouses it sybolically linked the tribes of the Six Nations.

Smoking pipes were most often crafted by the men of the tribe. They were for religious ceremonies, for trade, and for personal use. Tabacco was considered sacred and it was grown by the men in special plots.