In traditional Iroquoian societies, women had significant powers. They were responsible for organizing life in longhouses and villages, such as food sharing and agricultural work.
They also had the power to choose leaders who would make important decisions for the whole community and those who would decide on relations with other nations (peace and war). If a leader did not make the right decisions, the women could take away his power and appoint someone else.
Iroquoian societies were also matrilineal, meaning that families were created based on the eldest female ancestor. In a union, the man moved into his spouse’s longhouse and joined her family.