<P> As a result of their communal system, some would expect the Iroquois to have a culture of dependence without individuality . The Iroquois, however, had a strong tradition of autonomous responsibility . Iroquois men were taught to be self - disciplined, self - reliant, and responsible as well as stoic . The Iroquois attempted to eliminate any feelings of dependency during childhood and foster a desire for responsibility . At the same time, the child would have to participate in a communal culture, children were taught to think as individuals but work for the community . </P> <P> The Iroquois system of land management changed somewhat after encounter with the Europeans . The Mohawk were the first to deal with them and "sold" some land to settlers, although it is unlikely either side understood the other's conception of property . </P> <P> After the American Revolutionary War, the victorious Americans forced the nations into reservations much reduced in size from their former territories, even those two, the Oneida and Onondaga, that had supported them . Most of the other Iroquois nations were forced to give up their territory and retreated to Canada, where they received some land in compensation from the Crown, in addition to existing settlements along the St. Lawrence River . </P> <P> The Iroquois had a system of collectively owned land free to be used as needed by their members . While this system was not wholly collective, as land was distributed for use to individual family groups, the Iroquois lacked the Western conception of property as a commodity . Despite the influence of Western culture, the Iroquois have maintained a unique view of property over the years . </P>

What did the iroquois and other tribes use as currency