1892-9.'?. I SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF THE BLACKFOOT INDIANS. 253 



to war. Natosonesta, Medicine Calf, one of the most influential chiefs of 

 the tribe, was not present at the council, and it was at last agreed to 

 adjourn, to meet and hear Medicine Calf's opinion. The council met, 

 and the chief was present, when the decision of the council was stated 

 to him. The chief listened intently, and then asked, 



" Where are the Sioux ? " 



" In our territory," was the reply. 



" What harm have they done } " he enquired. 



" They have not done any," was the answer. 



Curtly then he spoke to the council : " I fight against my enemies ! " 



This ended the council meeting and the Blood Indians did not go to 

 war. 



The war chief was in the early days elected for five years, but now 

 they retain their position for life, or until they are unfit to perform their 

 duties. Since the institution of reservations, and the supervision of the 

 Government, the chiefs are retained in their positions during good 

 behaviour, or until death or incompetency removes them. The present 

 war chief of the Blood Indians is Manistokos, the Father of Many 

 Children, alias White Calf. 



The peace chief is elected similarly to the war chief His duties are 

 to keep order in the camp, and to regulate all matters in the camp. He 

 is the chief civil officer, and is supreme except in times of war. When 

 the tribe is on the march he gives orders where the lodges are to be 

 pitched collectively. Whenever anything happens as they are travelling 

 the soldiers call a meeting in the chief's lodge, over which the chief pre- 

 sides. The question is discussed, and a decision arrived at, whereupon 

 the soldiers receive their instructions from the chief and hasten speedily 

 to obey his command. All petty grievances and quarrels are brought 

 before him, and he gives his advice as to the manner of settlement. 

 Grave questions affecting the tribe, and not of an individual character, 

 are reserved for the council ; but all minor disputes arising from 

 theft, offences against the person, and questions of a similar nature 

 are settled by the chief as judge, magistrate, adviser and father to 

 his people. The peace chief must be therefore stern in giving his 

 decrees, wise and sympathetic in counsel, dignified in his dealings 

 and impartial in his judgments — a judge on the bench and a father 

 at the lodge-fires of his people. At the camp-fire he is stern and digni- 

 fied, at the lodge-fire sympathetic and humble. Mikasto, Red Croiv, is 

 the peace chief of the Blood Indians. 



