The Iroquois use a system of diagrams known as the kinship diagram to represent family relationships. This diagram follows a specific pattern with two symbolic points, a vertical line, and two horizontal lines. The vertical represents the mother, while the two horizontal lines represent her two spouses—the father on top and the mother at the bottom. Each point on the diagram represents a different relative and their relationship to one another, allowing for quick visualization of any given individual's familial connections.
