Bowers] HIDATSA SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL ORGANIZATION 117 



Father's Sister-Brother's Son; Father's Sister-Brother's Daughter 



The father's sister occupied a position similar to the father in the 

 ceremonial Ufe and distinguishable only by tribal limitations placed 

 on the activities of females. It was her right and duty to be present 

 when a brother's child was born and to receive presents for rituals 

 performed at the time of its bu'th and naming. Most female babies 

 were named by the father's sister or a woman standing in that rela- 

 tionship, the name being taken from ceremonies in which she held 

 rights with her brother. She was paid by the child's clan relatives. 

 The sum was large if a distant "father's sister" was giving the name 

 but only a token payment was made if she was the child's father's 

 own sister or the maternal grandfather's sister. 



The father's sister was expected to pray often for her brothers' 

 children so that they would be healthy and grow to maturity. In 

 later years it was expected that they would honor her by giving her 

 goods and horses during ceremonies and social events. Should her 

 brothers' children be sickly, she was expected to come and assist them 

 with the doctoring and "bring the blanket" if death occurred. Even 

 though she might be younger than the deceased "brother's child," 

 it was her duty to officiate at the funeral, when requested by the 

 deceased's clan relatives, and to send the spirit to the "home of the 

 dead." 



Having assisted her brother each time he made ceremonial pur- 

 chases, she was likewise considered to have supernatural power 

 controls, and presents were due her each time honors were shown her 

 brother. The father's sister played an important role in the transfer 

 of the age-grade societies owned by women. She selected as a 

 "daughter" first those who called her "father's sister" and instructed 

 them in the ritual of the society being purchased. 



The father's sister took no part in the marriage of her brother's 

 children; neither was it her duty to give presents to the sister-in- 

 law's household. Marriages were in no sense religious in nature. 



Grandmother-Grandchild; Grandmother-Daughter-in-Law 



In general, grandmothers treated their grandchildren kindly and 

 looked after them much the same as the "mothers" of the lodge did. 

 A child saw more of the maternal grandmothers since they usually 

 lived together in the same household. These old women, too old for 

 active work in the gardens or for heavy work around the lodge and 

 village, usually cared for the grandchildren of the lodge. They 

 would make toys, offer advice, relate myths and traditions, and teach 

 skills they had themselves obtained. For this advice and instruction 

 the children were advised to make payments to them even though 

 they might be of little value. 



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