WYANDOT GOVERNMENT: 
A SHORT STUDY OF TRIBAL ‘SOCIETY. 
By J. W. PowE tt. 
In the social organization of the Wyandots four groups are recog- 
nized—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 inter- 
woven 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 fe- 
male line. ‘The woman carries the gens,” is the formulated statement 
by which a Wyandot expresses the idea that descent is in the female 
line. Each gens has the name of some animal, the ancient of such ani- 
mal being its tutelar god. Up to the time that the tribe left Ohio, 
eleven gentes were recognized, as follows : 
Deer, Bear, Highland Turtle (striped), Highland Turtle (black), Mud 
Turtle, Smooth Large Turtle, Hawk, Beaver, Wolf, Sea Snake, and 
Porcupine. 
In speaking of an individual he is said to be a wolf, a bear, or a deer, 
as the case may be, meaning thereby that he belongs to that gens; but 
in speaking of the body of people comprising a gens, they are said to 
be relatives of the wolf, the bear, or the deer, as the case may be. 
There is a body of names belonging to each gens, so that each per- 
son’s name indicates the gens to which he belongs. These names are 
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