In Haudenosaunee longhouse communities, who ran the household?

• A. Chiefs
• B. Elders
• C. Clan Mothers
• D. Wives

Answer: (C)

In Haudenosaunee longhouse communities, households were run by the clan mothers. These women hold the leadership within the clan, and the system is matrilineal—family lines and inheritance pass through the mother’s side. Clan mothers oversee family resources, make important domestic decisions, and have the extraordinary authority to appoint and remove chiefs who represent the clan in broader governance. This arrangement centers on female leadership within the home and clan life, while elders offer guidance and tradition, and wives contribute to daily life. The clan mother’s central role is what keeps the longhouse functioning as a family-centered, matrilineal community.