Wyandot Government

Households, kinship groups and councils form the structure of John Wesley Powell's short study of Wyandot society. He begins with the communal dwelling and the woman who heads each household, then explains descent through the female line and the animal names associated with different kinship groups. The account connects these relationships to tribal membership, adoption and religious ceremonies.

Powell gives particular attention to the women who select chiefs and take part in council government. He describes how councillors are chosen, how leaders are installed at public celebrations, and how meetings reach decisions. The later discussion turns to the allocation of cultivated land, communal work, household property, inheritance and the handling of disputes. Readers interested in social organization can use this compact account to examine how family relationships shape authority and everyday responsibilities within the society Powell describes.