Erie Indians, an Indian tribe of the Iroquoian language group, related to the Hurons. Erie means “panther,” and the Eries were sometimes called the Cat Nation. In the 17th century they numbered about 14,500 and lived south of Lake Erie, mostly in the drainage basin of that lake. They farmed and had permanent towns. They were usually at war with the Iroquois confederacy. In 1656 the Iroquois captured the chief Erie town, Riqué, and massacred its inhabitants. A remnant of the Eries was absorbed by the Iroquois.