114 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



Older Sister- Younger Sister 



Except where there was a marked diflFerence in age or ability, there 

 was little difference in behavior between this set of relatives. Where 

 there was a marked difference in age, the older sister acted more like a 

 "mother" to the younger one. The bond between sisters was very 

 strong, being based on close blood ties, residence, sex, occupation, and 

 lifelong residence together. As children they played together around 

 the lodge. Later they worked together in the gardens or about the 

 lodge and cooperated in the same household activities. Quarrels 

 between sisters were rare and of little consequence. Unless there was 

 a marked difference in their ages, they were commonly married to the 

 same man. There was a strict rule that the oldest sister should 

 marry first and ultimately become the female head of the household. 

 The younger sisters were expected to marry the same man as they, in 

 turn, reached marriageable age. When differences in age were great, 

 however, younger sisters frequently had a different husband and 

 commonly moved to a different lodge unless the husbands were of 

 great difference in age. The oldest sister or sisters married to one 

 man normally inherited the lodge, garden plots and tools, and the 

 household goods. There was little distinction in behavior between 

 sisters of the same or of different mothers, provided they were 

 reared together in the same household. With few exceptions, sisters 

 reared their deceased sister's children. Since descent was matrilineal, 

 children of sisters were adopted without changes in clan affliation or 

 kinship terminology. 



When a husband maintained two households, the wives were often 

 of different clans. Then the sister bond was not as close; in fact, 

 there frequently was mild antagonism toward each other. The 

 attitude of sisters of different households depended in large measure 

 on the attitude of their mothers toward each other. 



Sisters cooperated in preparing food and goods for ceremonies 

 performed by their husbands and brothers, working together as a 

 team. This relationship of two or more sisters working together and 

 taking over the role held by the mothers formed the basis for the 

 continuity of the Hidatsa household. Brothers were expected to 

 marry and move away, but the sisters' obligation to the household 

 was primarily that of preserving its continuity. 



Brother-Sister 



A strong bond existed between a brother and his sister, based on 

 common blood and residence combined with common economic and 

 ceremonial interests. They played together until they were 6 or 7 

 years of age, after which they tended to avoid each other when other 



