Food:
* Meat: Deer meat was a primary source of protein. It was roasted, boiled, dried, or smoked for preservation.
* Bone Marrow: A valuable source of fat and nutrients. It was extracted from long bones and used in soups or eaten on its own.
* Hide: The hide was used to make clothing, footwear, blankets, and shelter materials.
* Tallow: Deer fat was rendered to create tallow, used for cooking, lighting, and waterproofing.
* Blood: Blood was sometimes mixed with other ingredients to create a protein-rich drink.
Tools and Crafts:
* Antlers: Used to make tools, weapons, and decorative items. Antlers were often carved into arrowheads, spear points, combs, or ornaments.
* Bones: Deer bones were used for making awls (for sewing), needles, fish hooks, and other tools.
* Sinew: The tendons were dried and used as thread for sewing, lashing, and making bowstrings.
* Hooves: Hooves were used for various purposes, including making rattles and jewelry.
Medicinal and Ritual Uses:
* Bones and Antlers: Believed to have spiritual power, used in healing ceremonies and rituals.
* Blood and Organs: Used in some medicinal remedies.
* Hide: Used in traditional clothing and ceremonial regalia.
Other:
* Teeth: Deer teeth were sometimes used as decorative elements or in jewelry.
It's important to remember that the specific ways in which deer parts were used varied among different Iroquois groups and over time.
The Iroquois had a deep respect for the deer and considered it a sacred animal. They recognized the interconnectedness of all living beings and practiced sustainable hunting methods to ensure the survival of the deer population.