PASSAGE THREE (Questions 5-6)
Dekanawida's role as a supreme lawgiver in the Iroquois tribe has given him the status of
demigod within the Indian nation. Born into the Huron tribe, Dekanawida caused great fear in
his parents, who tried to drown him in his youth after a prophecy was made indicating that he
would bring great sorrow to the Huron nation. Dekanawida was to survive this attempted
drowning but later left his parents' home and tribe to live among the Iroquois.
One of his achievements with the Iroquois was the institution of a law among the Iroquois
that virtually ended blood feuds among the nation's families. Wampum, strings of beads made of
polished shells, was a valued commodity in the Iroquois culture; according to policies established
by Dekanawida, wampum had to be paid to the family of a murder victim by the family of the
killer. Since the killer was also put to death, the family of the killer had to pay the victim's family
in wampum for two deaths, the death of the murder victim and the death of the killer. These
strict policies implemented by Dekanawida helped to establish him as a wise lawgiver and leader
of the Iroquois nation.
5. According to the passage, Dekanawida was NOT
6. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage about wampum?
