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MAY 2006: The Politics of the Red Man
Last month we discussed the family structure of the two Indian tribes that lived in the vicinity of our town, the Sac (Sauk) and the Fox (Mesquaki). Most of the information came from a handy little book titled “Two Nations, One Land” by Will Lainicke, Marion Lardner, and Ferrel Anderson. If you readers are like me you have never given much thought to the personal, day to day lives of the Native Americans. When this is examined it lends a deeper understanding of these people. It dawns on you that these were not savages. Not wild, undisciplined, unorganized people, but people with a complex social structure, with each individual having a role to play in their society.
The Sauk and Mesquaki had a very structured society that existed in their family units. Both nations had councils that governed the various units of the nation (tribes). The councils did not actually make law, they interpreted problems and analyzed solutions. They would offer a solution to the problem to the people who might accept it but could also reject it. All decisions were by consensus after discussion. Councils (especially Sauk) had considerable power in matters related to hunting areas and matters of trade. To enforce decisions the councils depended on the goodwill of warriors for political power and could not coerce dissenters.
It is interesting how the various clans that we described last time fit into the political structure. Among the Sauk the “trout” clan provided what we might call a “civil chief” who presided over council meetings. The “sturgeon” clan provided a “war chief”. Part of his job when there was no war was to assist the “civil chief”. The other council members came from the other clans with all clans represented. All representatives, including the chiefs had to be accepted by the full council. We could wonder how this worked in practice. Imagine how it would be if our government were this way! Actually, the councils had a tradition of cooperation and a high degree of stability, again, especially among the Sauk.
Among the Mesquaki the “bear” clan provided the civil chief and the “fox” clan provided the war chief. Among the Mesquaki the rest of the council was composed of persons distinguished for special skills—oratory, courage. military skills, etc. To break deadlocks in the council ceremonial runners called “criers” were used, men skilled in compromise. The Mesquaki were more individualistic than the Sauk. Disagreement and different opinions were more acceptable.
Both Sauk and Mesquaki were further grouped by local bands. These were not dependent on clan and organized for a specific purpose. Hunting groups were an example. They sometimes were factions that disagreed with council decisions. Black Hawk for example, was a band leader not actually accepted as a chief by the whole nation. Keokuk was the civil chief and never went to war against the white man.
In terms of religious beliefs both Sauk and Mesquaki recognized a good spirit and a bad spirit, quite similar to the white man’s God/Satan dichotomy. God was called Great Manitou, and common belief was that all things were part of Manitou, including non-living things. Also, that all things were equal in the eyes of Manitou. The book has a quote from a Mesquaki woman: “You are no more than the rocks, the raccoon, or the mosquito.” I find that an interesting way of looking at things. In the Indian belief man was not considered God’s greatest work.
Religion was central to life. All ceremonies and feasts were religious to some degree. Each clan had there own religious customs. Religion was very personal Black Hawk was asked once why a particular lodge in a village made a feast and not the others. He said he could not explain it since religion was such a personal matter. Spirits of the departed were highly regarded and the living would visit the graveyards to communicate with the departed. When the whites wanted the Indians to stay on there reservations, Black Hawk said: “What! To be driven from our villages and hunting grounds, and not even permitted to visit the graves of our forefathers, our relations, and friends?”
Another quote from Black Hawk: “The white man wanted us to believe in two Gods: Jesus Christ and God. We believe in only one God and He is part of all that is around us; the earth, the trees, the rocks, the river that runs through our land… We hear his voice in the thunder… We to have our ten commandments which we obey much better than the white man does…Our religion is part of our language, our culture, and the way we live.”
I feel I understand the Native American better after reading this little book. I hope I’ve communicated this understanding in this column.