Minds On

Roles in society

We all have roles and responsibilities in society.

What are some of the roles and responsibilities the following people may have in society?

Roles in society
Role	Responsibilities
Student
Parent
Child
Grandparent
Employee
Employer
Government official

Complete Roles in Society in your notebook, in the following fillable and printable documents, or record your ideas orally, digitally, or in a method of your choice.

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Roles in Society.

Activity

Brainstorm

What do you think?

After exploring the various roles and responsibilities, reflect on the following questions:

What do the terms ‘roles’ and ‘responsibility’ mean to you?
What are some roles and responsibilities you and your family members have?

Press 'Let's Check!' to access a hint.

Let's Check!

What are some duties or chores you may have to do at home?

Complete the Your Role and Responsibilities activity in your notebook, in the following fillable and printable documents, or record your ideas orally, digitally, or in a method of your choice.

Press the Activity button to access the Your Role and Responsibilities.

Activity

Action

Organizational structures

Everyone in your community, including adults, children, grandparents, and the government, has different roles and responsibilities. The same has been true since the first early societies formed.

Let’s consider the roles and responsibilities of members of some early societies.

As we explore, let’s take note of the social organizational structure of that society and how that affected the society members’ roles and responsibilities.

The Haudenosaunee

The Haudenosaunee, meaning “people of the longhouse” society, includes the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and the Tuscarora nations. These societies are still living in these regions, but for this learning activity, we will be focusing on these societies from an earlier period of time.

Let’s explore the map of the traditional Haudenosaunee territories.

As we work towards Truth and Reconciliation, information about lands and territories is constantly being updated. This map was accessed through the permission terms of Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign in June 2024.

Student Tips

Did you know?

The Haudenosaunee have a unique political system of matriarchy.

Matriarchy means women held powerful positions in their community. Members of the community traced their ancestry through their mother’s side of the family.

Roles and responsibilities

Clan mother with long white hair and dressed in traditional regalia.

The head of the Haudenosaunee was known as the Clan Mother. They were also responsible for selecting a male who would lead the clan as the Chief.

Within the Haudenosaunee society, everyone had different roles and held various responsibilities.

Press the tabs to access the roles and responsibilities of people within the Haudenosaunee society.

The Clan Mother is the traditional role of elder matriarch women, whose duties included appointing chiefs. The Clan Mother observed the male members and took note of their growth, maturity, decision-making ability, and how well they treated others and related to others as part of this process. Traditionally, the Clan Mother was selected according to her age, with the oldest woman in the clan taking this role on. She was responsible for the overall well-being of the clan and acted as the voice of the community when in discussions with the chiefs.

Chiefs were responsible for making decisions for the community. They acted as advisors and counsellors for the Haudenosaunee community.

Elders had a deep understanding of their nation’s history, culture, knowledge, ceremonies, and/or traditional teachings. They were recognized by their community and were responsible for making decisions, advising others on issues, and teaching future generations.

The people who worked alongside the Clan Mother and Chiefs. Their responsibility was to uphold the traditions and culture of the Haudenosaunee. This may have included preparing for ceremonies and organizing the community for events. They also acted as spiritual advisors for their community.

Healers used plants and medicines to help the sick. Their responsibility was to aid and support those with illness.

Women taught and raised children. They planted and gardened in the summer and prepared hides and resources for winter. Their roles could include being Clan Mother and handling social concerns that affected the village. They had a responsibility to ensure the well-being of their household and their community.

Men were hunters, gatherers, protectors, and traders. Their responsibility was to supply food for their community, build the longhouses, and keep enemies away in times of war. Men also had responsibilities to their mother’s family and to take care of their sisters' children, even after marriage.

Children were raised by all the women in their longhouse.

Boys learned how to hunt, fish, and gather wood. They were also expected to learn combat.
Girls assisted the women in the fields and learned how to cook, clean, sew, and help with their younger siblings.

Learning check

The Haudenosaunee continue their traditional form of governance across their communities and these roles and responsibilities are still carried out today.

For each sentence, select the missing word.

The Inca

Inca societies resided in the Andes region in what is now Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile in South America. This society was the strongest between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries (1400-1500).

The Inca had a political system that placed the Sapa Inca or Emperor at the top of the social hierarchy. His decisions were final and only the Apuconis or Council of the Prefects acted as advisors to the Sapa Inca.

The Incan empire was able to function based on roles and responsibilities of each group of people in the social hierarchy. For example, the Cucuricucs or Governors were responsible for administering the different regions of the empire and answered to the Apuconis. They made sure the will of the Emperor was carried out.

Similar to the Haudenosaunee community, everyone in Incan society served different roles and held various responsibilities.

Roles and responsibilities

Press the following tabs to explore roles and responsibilities in Incan society.

The Sapa Inca is the Emperor of the Incan Empire, and responsible for leading the empire.

Apuconis or the Council of Prefects were advisors and offered guidance to the Emperor.

Cucuricucs or Governors were responsible for the administration of regions within the Incan Empire. They organized land for the people and reported daily to the Apuconis.

The Curacas or Officials were responsible for collecting taxes in the empire.

Men built houses, cleared, plowed, and weeded fields, and served in battle when necessary.

Women’s role was to weave, raise children, cook, carry water, herd animals, and prepare the fields for cultivation.

There was a high mortality rate amongst children which means many infants and young children did not live long. They were often not given a name until they reached the age of two or three.

Girls were expected to learn the craft of weaving, as well as assist their mothers in the fields and with domestic tasks.
Boys would assist their fathers in hunting, fieldwork and learn the craft of warfare.

Learning check!

For each sentence, select the missing word from the drop-down menu.

Brainstorm