(Secret Societies and Ceremonials)

These had ancient antecedents in the Iroquois and in related tribes (Seneca).

Secret Medicine Society: Seven festivals of thanksgiving, beginning with a midwinter, a "Dance to the Maple" or "Sap Dance" to honor the running of the maple sap, so useful for making maple syrup; a "Planting Dance" - seeds for planting would be soaked to hasten germinating; "Berry Festival" when strawberries ripened; "Green Bean Festival"; the "Green Corn Festival"; and an October "Harvest Festival" or "Bread Dance".

The Medicine Society would undertake the process of putting these festival ceremonials together. They served religious and social purposes. Athletic contests between units of tribes typically took place after the main ceremonials.