Native American Tribal Structure and Leadership

The Native American social structure was highly organized, with tribes divided into bands of 20-700 people. Leadership was multi-faceted, with different chiefs holding specific responsibilities including war chiefs and spiritual leaders. Councils comprised of chiefs and elders made important decisions, with input welcomed from all community members including women.

Definition: Bands were smaller groups within tribes that operated semi-independently under their own chiefs.

Highlight: Chiefs were selected based on wisdom, leadership ability, and warrior skills, demonstrating the sophisticated political structure of Native American societies.

Example: The Sioux, as the largest tribe, exemplified this complex leadership structure with multiple chiefs serving different roles.