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Prestige Factors
The Onondaga Nation was crucial in forming the Iroquois League which led them to be very well revered by their peers. The "Tree of Peace" was planted on Onondaga Land. Onondaga has been regarded as the capital of Iroquois land. The Onondaga were known as the Central Fire-Keepers of the Confederacy. The Onondaga were known as the guardians or watch keepers of the league. They were keepers of the law in order to preserve traditions and institutions. The culture hero Hyenwatha was an Onondaga Indian. He was essential in the early organization of the league. The title of Thadodaho was always held by an Onondaga chief. He was to be the chief arbitrator of the Lord's of the Confederacy. The Onondaga maintained the largest number chieftainship titles as well as the largest number of clans among the Iroquois. Handsome Lake, the Seneca prophet who was the author of the scripture thats about the new religion of the Iroquois died at Onondaga.

Customs
The Onondaga practice the sprinkling of ashes when juggling the treatment of the sick. They also do a public confession of sins upon a string of wampum. The wampum is employed on all matters of public importance. Their funerals were known to be quiet and solemn with the females covering their faces. There were also special events such as the Planting Feast which would happen in May or when the Onondaga believed the ground was ready. This was three days for penitential and religious services. One day for the children's dance, and one each for the Four Persons, the Holder for the Heavens, the Thunder, and for gambling. The Strawberry Feast comes when the berries are ripe. This day there are dancing for the Thunder and a feast of strawberries. The Green Bean Dance comes when the green beans are fit for use. This day there are dances for the Thunder and a mixture of war and feather dances. The Green Corn dance always comes after the Green Bean dance. This day there are three days for religious services, one for the children, one for the Four Persons, one for the Holder of the heavens, and one for the Thunder with the feast. The Onondaga's Thanksgiving feast in October closely resembled the Green Corn Dance.

Sports
The Onondaga very much enjoyed sports and physical activity. Lacrosse and foot races were always known to be favorites of the Onondaga people. They also adopted many games for white people such as mumble the peg, marbles, some games of ball, pull away, and fox and geese in the snow. Hide and seek and blindman's bluff were played but no games with song.

Culture
Some factors that defined Onondaga life were a continued placement of villages on defensive high points away from rivers and the presence of defensive earthen embankments. A gradual evolution of pottery vessels and smoking pipe forms and decorations. A gradual evolution of stone and bone tools and implements. Continuity in subsitence systems. Continuity of house forms and inferred communal living. The continued use of human face motifs. Evidence for bear ceremonialism and cannibalism.