Powell, John Wesley, 1834-1902 / 2008-06-07 00:00:00
EBOOK WYANDOT GOVERNMENT ***
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[Transcriber's Note: This text uses several diacritical marks: [)e]
represents "e with breve," [n] represents "superscript n," ' at
the end of syllables is a prime mark, [u.] represents "u with dot
below."]
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION--BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY.
J. W. POWELL, DIRECTOR.
WYANDOT GOVERNMENT:
A SHORT STUDY OF TRIBAL SOCIETY.
BY
J. W. POWELL.
In the social organization of the Wyandots four groups are
recognized--the family, the gens, the phratry, and the tribe.
THE FAMILY.
The family, as the term is here used, is nearly synonymous with the
household. It is composed of the persons who occupy one lodge, or, in
their permanent wigwams, one section of a communal dwelling. These
permanent dwellings are constructed in an oblong form, of poles
interwoven with bark. The fire is placed in line along the center, and
is usually built for two families, one occupying the place on each
side of the fire.
The head of the family is a woman.
THE GENS.
The gens is an organized body of consanguineal kindred in the female
line. "The woman carries the gens," is the formulated statement by
which a Wyandot expresses the idea that descent is in the female line.
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