Kanien'kehá:ka

The Kanien'kehá:ka people in Kanatahséton

The Kanien'kehá:ka (English: People of the Flint), also known as the Mohawk, are one of the five original nations that make up the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois Confederacy. Originally from the area that would later become upstate New York and Quebec, the nation is known as the "elder brothers" and "keepers of the eastern door [of the longhouse]" to the other nations of the confederacy.

During the 18th century, the Kanien'kehá:ka village of Kanatahséton was situated by a lakeside in the Diamond Basin region of the Frontier. Due to their overwhelming support of the British Army during the Seven Years' and the American Revolutionary Wars, they were often subjected to slander, and were nicknamed "Mohawk". This insult originated from the Algonquian language and means "flesh-eater". ^{[citation needed]}

Notable members

At least one of their members, Ratonhnhaké:ton, joined the Assassins. His mother, Kaniehtí:io, brought him up alone, until she died underneath burning rubble when he was four years old. One of Ratonhnhaké:ton's childhood friends was Kanen'tó:kon, and their bond endured into their adult lives. Meanwhile, Oiá:ner was the Clan Mother of the Kanien'kehá:ka village of Kanatahséton, and showed Ratonhnhaké:ton the Crystal Ball safeguarded by their tribe, from which he learned of his destiny with the Assassins.

At an undisclosed time, Atasá:ta was born into the Kanien'kehá:ka, but was trained separately by his Assassin father. After a Templar raid killed his father, Atasá:ta sought revenge and roamed the cities searching for those responsible. In 2012, his genetic memories were used by the entertainment branch of the Templar front-company Abstergo Industries as the basis for the tertiary stage Animi Avatar known as the "Silent Shadow", in order to influence the general public via the Animus games console.

History

Viking Age

Eivor meeting Konwahawíhshon and Karonhiaktátie'

Around 875 CE, Gorm Kjotvesson, the Maegester of the Wardens of War sect of the Order of the Ancients, led an expedition to Vinland, where he searched for Isu secrets, guided by a Crystal Ball in his possession. Gorm's rival Eivor Varinsdottir pursued him from England and, during her search for her target, resided in the Kanien'kehá:ka village of Karonhiakèn:iate' after befriending its inhabitants.

Once Eivor assassinated Gorm outside the Grand Temple and took his Crystal Ball, she returned to Karonhiakèn:iate, where Karonhiaktátie' invited her to recite a Norse story to the tribe. Before departing, Eivor entrusted the Crystal Ball to Konwahawíhshon, the leader of the tribe.

American Revolutionary War

During the American Revolutionary War, due to unresolved conflicts with settlers encroaching into the Mohawk Valley, and outstanding treaty obligations to the British Crown, the Mohawk fought against the Continental Army. However, Ratonhnhaké:ton's village remained neutral to the fighting, as they were ordered by Juno, through their Crystal Ball, to protect the Grand Temple.

Behind the scenes

While no official reason was given for why the Kanien'kehá:ka speak English throughout all episodes of The Tyranny of King Washington, it was suggested in a 2013 Q&A session on Raptr that the developers felt the Kanien'kéha language took too long to translate and present on screen, and that the primary game had already presented the language in an authentic manner, so it was unnecessary for them to do it again.

In Assassin's Creed: Valhalla the Kanien'kehá:ka are shown to live across the breadth Vinland which in-game spans from Lake Ontario to the Atlantic coast of Massachusetts Bay. However, historically, most of that region would be populated by the Massachuseuck tribe, an Algonquian people, not Iroquois like the Kanien'kehá:ka.

Gallery

• 
  Konwahawíhshon
• 
  Karonhiaktátie'
• 
  Kaniehtí:io
• 
  Kanen'tó:kon
• 
  Ratonhnhaké:ton
• 
  Oiá:ner
• 
  Atasá:ta
• 
  Io:nhiòte

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed III (first appearance)
  • The Tyranny of King Washington
• Assassin's Creed: Forsaken
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
• Assassin's Creed: Rebellion (mentioned in Database entry only)
• The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR