^°N(f.*^74r^^' IROQUOIS MASKS AT ONONDAGA — HENDRY 361 



tools and new materials — cloth, glass beads, yarns, and ribbons — 

 brought about a florescence in embroidery and the development of 

 new designs. Geometric motifs became less common, giving way to 

 elaborate and quasi-realistic floral patterns which indicate French 

 influence (Speck, 1945, p. 62). Silversmithing was acquired from the 

 Dutch in the 17th century and seems to have taken hold very quickly. 

 Crosses, brooches, bracelets, and rings were made by the Europeans 

 for the Indian trade and later by the Iroquois themselves. Form 

 and decoration resembled work of European origin, circles, diamonds, 

 hearts, and stars being the most popular designs. During the Co- 

 lonial Period there was a smith in almost every Iroquois village and 

 the craft flourished until the middle 1800's. 



The American Revolution marked the decline of the League and the 

 end of political independence. While the Iroquois were unable to 

 come to a unanimous decision as to which side to support, most of 

 the tribes fought on the side of the English, and at the close of the 

 war about two-thirds of the population fled to Canada. Those who 

 remained here were granted a portion of their original territory under 

 Government treaty, although these lands were subsequently reduced 

 by forced sales and the encroachments of White settlers. Today there 

 are approximately 7,000 Iroquois living on seven reservations in New 

 York State, and several thousand more, principally Oneidas, in 

 Wisconsin. The population, which had suffered heavily from the 

 wars as well as from alcohol and disease introduced by the Europeans, 

 has been steadily increasing during the last 100 years. Intermarriage 

 with the Whites began soon after contact, and it is estimated that the 

 United States Iroquois are now about 55 percent fuUblooded (Doug- 

 las, 1931 a). The League, although greatly weakened and deprived 

 of many of its powers, continues to function and has undoubtedly 

 been a factor in allowing the Iroquois to preserve their tribal identity. 

 Acculturation has obliterated much of the aboriginal culture, but it 

 has taken place at a rate that has allowed them, as a society, to 

 adjust rather than disintegrate. 



Although in many aspects of Iroquois life change has been resisted 

 and the old ways have been retained, the material culture has largely 

 succumbed to the pressure of western civilization. As a result, many 

 of the arts have lost their function in the society, and, in most in- 

 stances, when they have not disappeared completely, they have been 

 reduced to the production of curios and knickknacks for the tourist 

 trade. A number of the old artisans have died, and there is little 

 incentive in the younger generation to continue the traditional arts 

 or to institute new ones. An efl"ort to remedy this situation was 

 undertaken in 1935 when the Indian Arts Project, sponsored by the 

 Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences, was established. Operating 



