After the story, Onatah brought Magua a drink.
He looked much better.
"How many families live here?"
asked Mandy, looking around.
"Our longhouse has six families," said Onatah.
"I live with my grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins."
A man entered the home.
He whispered something to Clan Mother.
She looked very serious.
"Onatah, take Vinnie and Mandy to the Green Corn dance," Clan Mother said.
"What's wrong, Grandmother?" asked Onatah.
"Don't worry. Go out and join the others," said Clan Mother.
"I will call you when I need you."
The children left the longhouse.
"Everyone calls your grandmother 'Clan Mother,'" said Mandy. "Why?"
"Women head all our families.
Women are wise," said Onatah.
"People always come to my grandmother for advice.
She is the oldest woman in our clan."
Mandy thought of the other places she had visited.
Men were always the most important ones.
Among the Iroquois, women were more respected than men.
Many people were gathered in the middle of the village.
Everyone looked excited.
The dancers were dressed in colorful clothes.
Some were holding feathers in their hands.
Others wore them in their hair.
People were singing and playing small drums.
"We thank you for the harvest," people sang.
"We planted. We gathered. We ate."
The dancers pretended to plant corn, beans, and squash.
"Iroquois always plant the Three Sisters together in a small pile of soil," said Onatah.
"And we use the shoulder blades of deer as hoes."
Then Onatah jumped into the dance.
Vinnie and Mandy did too.
The rhythm of the loud drums matched the beat of their hearts.
Everyone was smiling and laughing.
After the dance, Onatah's grandmother spoke.
"Something important has happened," said Clan Mother.
"We must get ready for the council.
They are coming."
The people began to whisper.
"The council?" asked Mandy.
"Remember the story Grandmother told you?" said Onatah.
"Deganawidah chose fifty chiefs to look after the Iroquois.
Each nation has ten chiefs.
They come together to make important decisions for the Iroquois."
Onatah looked at her grandmother.
Clan Mother looked sadly at Vinnie and Mandy.
"What is it?" asked Mandy.
"The whites have come into our land," Clan Mother sighed.
"A fight may begin soon."
Vinnie and Mandy looked at each other.
"Maybe we should call Deganawidah's name," said Vinnie.
"He promised to return."
Clan Mother smiled and patted him lightly.
"We will wait to hear from the council."
Everyone stood near the central fire.
People looked worried.
No one danced or laughed anymore.
"When are the chiefs coming?" asked Mandy nervously.
"Will it be soon?"
No one answered her.