What type of government did the Cheyenne Indians have?

Answer 1

The Cheyenne tribal leadership was, like that of most native tribes, much more complex than people today think. Most people believe that each tribe was headed by a single supreme chief who behaved and was treated like a king - this is completely false.

The Cheyenne tribe was (unusually among Plains tribes) a politically unified nation. At its head was the "Keeper of the Sacred Arrows" who would have to be replaced from time to time, then a council of 44 chiefs, 4 from each of the 10 Cheyenne bands plus 4 advisers. Below these were the chiefs of the warrior societies such as the Dog Soldiers, the Bowstrings, the Fox society and the (Red) Shield society.

The warrior society leaders were entirely responsible for discipline within the tribe (acting as a kind of police force), for controlling hunts, supervising ceremonies and for military decisions and leadership in war.

So, although the "Keeper of the Sacred Arrows" is at the top of this hierarchy and he might be considered a "head chief" by visiting (ignorant) white men, he actually held very little power or authority, but a great deal of responsibility.

White Americans talk about "chiefs" as if they were all of the same rank, but clearly they were not.

Some notable chiefs of the Cheyenne are:

• Dull Knife
• Porcupine (known to white Americans as White Shield)
• Tall Bull (a chief of Dog Soldiers)
• Black Kettle
• American Horse (not the Lakota of the same name)
• Comes in Sight
• Two Moons
• Bull Bear (a chief of Dog Soldiers)
• Crazy Head
• Flat Iron
• Lame White Man
• Little Horse
• Little Wolf
• Roman Nose (or Hump Nose)
• Strong Left Hand
• White Bull
• White Hawk
• White Shield
• Wolf Robe

Answer 2

Unlike many tribes the Cheyenne and their very close relatives the So'taa'e (Suhtaio) had a very rigid structure of tribal government.

There was a council of 44 chiefs made up of 4 from each of the 10 bands plus 4 "Old Man Chiefs" who had higher status. These chiefs had responsibility for ruling each of the 10 bands and the tribe as a whole. The number 4 was sacred to the Cheyenne, as it was among many native tribes.

There were also war chiefs belonging to the Cheyenne warrior societies, who had responsibility for policing the tribal hunts, maintaining discipline when moving camp and and for all matters relating to war with other tribes (including white Americans). The warrior societies included the Kit Fox Society, Flint Men, Red Shields, Buffalo Bull Warriors, Spear Men, Coyote Warriors, Bowstrings, Wolf Warriors, Crazy Dogs, Contraries, War Dancers and the Dog Men (incorrectly called Dog Soldiers by white people).

Some of these war chiefs were appointed to the council of 44, but then had to give up their war society membership.

The Keeper of the Sacred Arrows (maahotse) represented the spirit of the tribe and its continued wellbeing; the Keeper of the bundle containing these 4 arrows was therefore an extremely prominent man in the tribe who was entrusted with their safekeeping. He had enormous responsibilities but very little power as a chief. The sacred arrows would only be taken into battle as a last resort, the bundle containing them tied to the lance of a chosen warrior.

Answer 3

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