Society and Family

• The social structure of the Huron, like all member groups in their confederation, was based on extended family groups. Membership in a given clan was based on a matrilineal line of descent. All property was owned by the matrilineal clan, rather than an individual. The typical Huron family group consisted of the entire extended family. All members of the family helped to rear children. At an early age, the family began to teach their children to use the skills they would need as adults.
  
  The government of the Huron as it stood on the eve of the European invasion was a confederation of clans and villages across the Eastern seaboard. Each village was responsible for handling its own individual affairs, but when a concern presented itself that affected the entire confederation, a council would make the decisions. The council consisted of male representatives, or "sachems," from each of the clans. A given clan was generally made of several villages, connected by a hereditary relationship.
  
  

Language

• The Huron spoke the Wyandot language. This was one of the five languages spoken by the Iroquois-Huron family of tribes. The last native speaker of Wyandot died in the 1960s. There are currently efforts underway to revive the language and help to preserve the heritage of the Huron people.
  
  

Religion

• The Huron religion was based on a belief of many spirits, or Oqui, which inhabit the natural world and have an effect on everyday human existence. Four very important figures appear in the Huron creation story. They are the Aataentsic, who is the mother of all human kind, along with Louskeha, a creative being, and Tawiscaron, who is responsible for death and disease. The fourth figure is the great turtle, who is responsible for rescuing Aataentsic by ordering the fishes to create land on which she can live.
  
  Healing is another important element of Huron culture. Sickness is believed to be both physical and spiritual, and so healers had to be adept at both physical remedies and communication with the spirit world.
  
  

Arts, Crafts, and Entertainment

• The Huron's artistic pursuits frequently coincided with religion. These included ceremonial painting, carving, and mask making. For entertainment, they enjoyed a variety of games and sporting events, including tobogganing and lacrosse.