is composed one-fifth of men and four-fifths of
women. The sachem of the tribe, or tribal chief, is chosen by
the chiefs of the gentes. There is sometimes a grand council
of the gens, composed of the councilors of the gens proper and
all the heads of households (women) and leading men--brothers
and sons. There is also a grand council of the tribe, composed
of the council of the tribe proper and the heads of households
of the tribe, and all the leading men of the tribe....

The four women councilors of the gens are chosen by the heads
of households, themselves being women. There is no formal
election, but frequent discussion is had over the matter from
time to time, in which a sentiment grows up within the gens
and throughout the tribe that, in the event of the death
of any councilor, a certain person will take her place. In
this manner there are usually one, two, or more potential
councilors in each gens, who are expected to attend all the
meetings of the council, though they take no part in the
deliberations and have no vote. When a woman is installed as
a councilor, a feast is prepared by the gens to which she
belongs, and to this feast all the members of the tribe are
invited. The woman is painted and dressed in her best attire,
and the sachem of the tribe places upon her head the gentile
chaplet of feathers, and announces in a formal manner to
the assembled guests that the woman has been chosen a
councilor.... The gentile chief is chosen by the council women
after consultation with the other women and men of the gens.
Often the gentile chief is a potential chief through a period
of probation. During this time he attends the meetings of the
council, but takes no part in the deliberations and has no
vote. At his installation, the council women invest him with
an elaborately ornamented tunic, place upon his head a chaplet
of feathers, and paint the gentile totem upon his face.... The
sachem of the tribe is selected by the men belonging to the
council of the tribe.

The management of military affairs inheres in the military
council and chief. The military council is composed of all the
able-bodied men of the tribe; the military chief is chosen
by the council from the Porcupine gens. Each gentile chief is
responsible for the military training of the youth under his