Onondaga (Noun)
Meaning 1
A member of the Iroquoian people formerly living between Lake Champlain and the Saint Lawrence River.
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- The Onondaga were a key member of the Iroquoian Confederacy in what is now New York state.
- Historians often refer to the specific role Onondaga leaders played in early colonial politics.
- The Onondaga were closely related to other Iroquoian people, sharing many customs and traditions.
- Anthropologists have studied Onondaga migration patterns, mapping the expansion of their historic territory.
- Archaeologists excavating near the Saint Lawrence River have found evidence of ancient Onondaga settlements.
Meaning 2
The Iroquoian language spoken by the Onondaga.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The Onondaga language is an essential component of Iroquoian culture and is still spoken by some Onondaga Nation members today.
- Historical records provide insight into the Onondaga spoken during the time of the Iroquois Confederacy formation.
- Experts study the Onondaga language to better understand ancient Iroquoian dialects and their interrelation with other Iroquoian tongues.
- Research on the Iroquois Confederacy requires a working knowledge of the Onondaga language and its position within the Iroquoian language family.
- Traditional storytelling and oral histories hold significant value for the Onondaga people, as they preserve elements of their original Onondaga language.