Symbolically , the Mohawk guarded the eastern door , as they lived in the east closest to the Hudson River , and the Seneca guarded the western door of the `` tribal longhouse '' , the land they controlled in New York . Symbolically , the Mohawk were the guardians of the eastern door , as they were located in the east closest to the Hudson , and the Seneca were the guardians of the western door of the `` tribal longhouse '' , the territory they controlled in New York .