POTAWATOMI-Social Groups Great Lakes Native Tribes Were Relatively
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POTAWATOMI-Social Groups Great Lakes native tribes were relatively egalitarian, meaning there were no distinct classes of society. The smallest social unit was the nuclear family: husband, wife, and unmarried children. When married, a couple would set up an independent dwelling near the husband’s family, creating a residence pattern of extended families living in neighboring households. In addition to his or her family, every individual was a member of a clan. Potawatomi clans were patrilineal, meaning they traced their descent through the father’s line. You could not marry a person of the same clan. Again, upon marriage, the couple usually went to live in the area of the husband’s family. The intermarriage of the clans created links between different villages and these links encouraged trade and other bonds between villages. Clans (Potawatomi) Main article: Anishinaabe clan system Chauvignerie (1736) and Morgan (1877) mentions among the Potawatomi doodems (clans) being: Bené (Turkey) Mek (Beaver) Mshike' (Turtle) Gagagshi (Crow) Mewi'a (Wolf) Gnew (Golden Eagle) Mgezewa (Bald Eagle) Nme' (Sturgeon) Jejakwe' (Thunderer, i.e. Crane) Mkedésh-gékékwa (Black Hawk) Nmébena (Carp) Mag (Loon) Mko (Bear) Shage'shi (Crab) Mekchi (Frog) Mshéwé (Elk) Wabozo (Rabbit) The Potawatomi clan that settled in Mukwonago was the Mko, or Bear clan. Mukwonago translates to “The Place of the Bear.” In addition to the clan structure, there was also an additional division of the people which cut across family and clans to create two opposing groups based on their order of birth within the family. Within each family, the odd-numbered children (for instance the first, third, and fifth) were assigned to the “senior side” while the even-number children were in the “junior side.” These groupings operated in games such as lacrosse and in some ceremonies and rituals. There was rivalry in competitions between these two groups. In the traditional social groups of men/women, the duties were very different. Potawatomi women were farmers and did most of the child care and cooking. Potawatomi men were hunters and sometimes went to war to protect their families. Both genders practiced story-telling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine. Today, women frequently hold positions of leadership, serving in positions such as Tribal judges. Each Potawatomi village was led by a senior man of the major clan who functioned largely because of his seniority, the respect he commanded, and his ability to influence the people with his decisions. Traditionally, the Potawatomi probably did not have a chief of the entire tribe, but under some circumstances-such as intertribal warfare or overall agreements-these village leaders might select a single man from one of the villages to speak for them with a single voice. Group decision-making for major undertakings-such as war or large-scale change-was a slow and involved process. After long discussions of the pros and cons, a decision was reached and a feast was held to cement the peoples’ commitment to it. Thus, all were involved and no single person had the right or responsibility to dictate to the others. Information taken from Milwaukee Public Museum: http://www.mpm.edu/wirp/icw-56.html http://www.mpm.edu/wirp/ICW-48.html .