CONTENTS 



PAGE 



Preface iii 



Introduction 1 



Historical and cultural background 10 



Hidatsa social organization 26 



Village and tribal organization and activities 26 



Councils 27 



Leaders 40 



War 40 



Summer camp 45 



Intertribal visits 47 



Summer hunt 50 



Winter camp 56 



Summary 63 



The clan and moiety system 64 



Origins 64 



Clan membership and affiliations 67 



Clan duties and responsibilities 71 



Hidatsa moiety concept 78 



The kinship system 80 



Kinship extension 90 



Kinship behavior 103 



Life cycle 126 



Birth and naming 126 



Training and ceremonial participation 129 



Marriage and the household 138 



Maturity and old age 163 



Last illness and death 168 



The age-grade system 174 



Men's societies 175 



Stone Hammer society ISO 



Kit Fox society 181 



Lumpwood society 183 



Half -Shaved Head society 183 



Black Mouth society 184 



Dog societies 194 



Bull society 198 



Women's societies 199 



Skunk society 200 



Enemy society 200 



Goose society 200 



White Buffalo Cow society 204 



Characteristics of the Hidatsa age-grade structure 207 



Warfare 212 



Intertribal relations 212 



