Chiefs, Council of Elders

The Roles of Chiefs greatly depended on each nation and culture

In Algonquian societies, because they existed in so many locations and as so many distinct groups and societies,  there was also a wide variety of roles that chiefs had in those societies.

“The roles of leaders have varied widely across First Nations in Canada. Historically, some First Nations were chiefdoms — highly ranked communities led by a primary chief — such as the bands of the Neutral Confederacy. Other First Nations, such as the Cree and Siksika, have always had a wide variety of leaders, from minor to head chiefs, with responsibilities divided amongst them. Today, those roles are often filled by elected councillors and chiefs who similarly share governing power.

There are also cases where formal chiefs did not exist in the pre-contact era, such as in some Dene and Innu communities. Certain individuals who exhibited leadership skills in areas like  hunting, trading and war, often attracted followers. During the fur trade, Europeans encouraged (and in some cases, imposed) the establishment of chiefs with more wide-reaching powers as a means of controlling local Indigenous populations. The role of chief still exists in many of these communities.” (Source)

Texts by Matt Russell, with additions by Paul Rombough and via other sources as indicated.

The Chief’s position was obtained differently in different communities

In certain societies chiefs were appointed, in others their position was hereditary, or in other words passed down from father to son.  In some cases, the chief could also be a shaman.  For example, MEMBERTOU, a chief in the Mi’kmaq society at the time of first European trade, was a feared and respected chief because of the additional powers he was known to possess.

“Membertou’s influence also extended to religious matters, as he was a buoin, or autmoin (medicine man). The spirit world permeated the daily life of the Micmacs, and anyone could interpret dreams or have visions. Some, however, namely the autmoins, were recognized for their special powers, which included predicting the future, anticipating the outcome of the hunt, rendering oracles, or soothing the sick. Because it was believed that Membertou possessed this supernatural gift, in addition to his qualities as chief, he earned further prestige, as Biard attests in the Relations: ‘It sometimes happens that one same being is all things together & Autmoin & Sagamo, & then he is greatly feared. Such was the renowned Membertou.’” (Source)

Texts by Matt Russell, with additions by Paul Rombough and via other sources as indicated.

Power was passed down and practiced differently, in Iroquoian Societies 

Significant powers were held by the clan mothers in Iroquoian societies.  They held the power to choose the “civil chiefs”, i.e. those chiefs in charge of the clans and the communities who were then sent to serve for that community on the larger Haudenosaunee councils.  Iroquois also had “war chiefs” who could be appointed or elected by members of the councils  “Certain men could be elevated to the level of Pine Tree Chief or War Chief through great deeds, though they were not allowed to decide matters at the Council Fire, only offer input.” (Snow 1996:62, and O'Brien 1989:20. via Thesis by Brian Cook).  The real power between civil chiefs and war chiefs varied, depending on whether the society was involved in a war or not.  During peacetime, the civil chiefs, through the power of the clan mother, would hold sway.  But during times of conflict, the war chief would act as leader.

Text based on scripts by Matt Russell and other sources indicated.

Confederacy in Iroquoian societies was closer, more organized

In both the original Iroquoian Confederacy of Five Nations, and the Huron Confederacy of the same time period,  the council systems there could be seen as more organized than councils in the Algonquian societies which were based more on family associations.  The confederacy system allowed for meetings clan chiefs in councils that represented the separate nations.  These chiefs would all meet to discuss issues and make decisions that affected their whole union, and were for the benefit of all members.  However, locally these local nations, and the chiefs who led them, continued to maintain a certain independence from the whole.

Text based on scripts by Matt Russell and other sources indicated.