demo] THE ASSINIBOIN 435 



importance attached to these clans, neither do they appear to be of 

 much use, and most likely are got up for the purpose of display, 

 dancing, and other ceremonies, but as soon as these are over mix up 

 with the hands they belong to, and are very little talked of. There 

 are no minor subdivisions except into families. These remarks answer 

 nearly all search for origins of bands in badges and names of bands. 

 Now, as far as the roving tribes are concerned, this is error. The 

 names of the Assiniboin bands we have mentioned and those of the 

 Sioux now follow, some of which consist of two, three, and four 

 hundred lodges, and none of them have the least reference to Bear, 

 Wolf, Eagle, Fox, or Father, Grandfather, Uncle, etc., or anything 

 of the kind. 



The names of the different bands of the Missouri and the Platte 

 Sioux are Lower Yanctons, Sechong-hoo (Burnt Thighs), Oglala, 

 Sawone, 8 Minneconzshu, Etasepecho (Sans Arcs), Honcpapa, Seah- 

 sappah (Blackfeet Band), Wohainoompa (Two Kettle Band), Mide- 

 wahconto, Esantees, Teezaptah, Zahbaxah (Tete Coupees), Waze- 

 cootai (Tireur dans les Pines). 



As before remarked, not one of these names bears the most distant 

 resemblance to any living animal, bird, and so forth, neither have any 

 of them any general badge representing these things as symbolical of 

 their band. 9 The clans before referred to are of no importance in 

 their government and with the Sioux and with the Assiniboin are 

 only recognized as separate bodies during their dances and other 

 ceremonies. 



Is each band entitled to one or more chiefs? There is, as observed 

 before, but one nominal chief to each band, and it is he who leads it. 

 Yet this position does not destroy nor militate against the will of 

 several others in the same band whose voices are as much entitled to 

 a hearing and sometimes more so than his. No man's rule over them 

 is absolute ; their government is pure democracy. Their consent to be 

 governed or led by any man is voluntarily given and likewise with- 

 drawn at the discretion of the person. But their existence as a 

 people depends on forming themselves into bodies capable of defense. 

 These bodies must have leaders and these leaders must be brave, re- 

 spected, followed, and supported. In case of a treaty either with 

 whites or with Indians of other nations, the leading chief's voice 

 would have no additional weight because he is in that position. He 

 would be allowed to state his opinions with others of the same stand- 

 ing as men in the same band, but nothing more. As a good deal that 

 is to follow will depend upon receiving a correct idea of these chiefs 

 or leaders we do not like to leave any portion of these matters ob- 

 scure or unanswered. There are no bands more honorable than 



8 This term is the same as Saone or Sanona. 



* Here Denig seems to refer to what is commonly called clan totems. 



