Which tribe was known as the keepers of the western door?

• A. Cayuga
• B. Seneca
• C. Mohawk
• D. Oneida

Answer: (B)

In Haudenosaunee tradition, the nations of the Confederacy are linked to directional roles that reflect their geographic positions. The western edge of the confederacy was occupied by the Seneca, so they were named the keepers of the western door, entrusted with guarding that boundary and managing relations toward the west. This symbolism ties a nation’s place on the map to its responsibilities within the confederacy, just as Mohawk are known as keepers of the eastern door because they sit at the eastern edge, with the council and central duties centered among Onondaga. So the label “keepers of the western door” specifically fits the Seneca.