In the Great Lakes tribes, the men hunted for wild birds, moose, caribou, beavers, otters and other small animals, while the women gathered nuts, greens and berries and grew corns, beans and squash. Iroquois grew these three vegetables as well, and these Indians started calling corns, beans and squash "The Three Sisters." When farming conditions became poor, the Iroquois moved to new locations. The Algonquians had clam bakes with clams, oysters, mussels and lobsters.
The Northeast woodland Indians spoke one of three major languages. The languages are known as Algonquian, Iroquoian and Siouan. The Winnebago who lived in the Great Lakes region spoke Siouan. The Eastern Algonquian-speaking nations were Abenaki, Delaware, Mahican, Malecite, Masschuset, Micmac, Montauk, Narraganset, Pennacook, Pequot and Wampanoag, while the Central Alongquian-speaking nations were Chippewa, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Menominee, Sauk, Fox, Kickapoo, Illinois Shawnee, Piankasaw and Prairie Potawatomi. The Seneca, Onondaga, Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuse, Huron, Erie, and Susquehannock spoke Iroquian.
Wigwams and longhouses were the two main types of dwelling places for the Northeast Indians. The Algonquins lived in wigwams, which are small houses approximately 8 to 10 feet in height. They are made out of wooden frames covered in birchbark and woven mats. Some of the Algonquins lived in longhouses, though those were primarily used by the Iroquois tribes. Up to 60 people lived in the longhouses, which could measure up to 200 feet long, 20 feet wide and 20 feet high. They were made from pole frames and elm bark.
Algonquins were known for their powwows, in which people traded, formed alliances and discussed any disagreements or issues in the tribe. This tribe also introduced the game called snowsnake. Players slid sticks with one end carved to look like a snake's head down the snow. Whoever slid the stick the farthest won. The Iroquois Indians formed the Confederacy, which was also known as the League of Six Nations. This tribe also held six big festivals every year: the New Year Festival, the Maple Festival, the Corn Planting Festival, the Strawberry Festival, the Green Corn Festival and the Harvest Festival.