How did the haida people organize themselves and make decisions?

Answer 1

The Haida are organised into two groups, anthropologically referred to as moieties, Eagles and Ravens. After this significant designation the Haida are organised into individual, separate and autonomous clans. Somewhat similar to the Scottish clans. An Eagle must marry someone from the Raven side and vice versa. It was taboo to marry someone from the same moiety. Haida follow a matrilineal line of descent - that is you follow your mother and belong to your mother's clan. Chief successors are either their brothers, if he has any, or his nephews of his eldest sister. Aunts and Uncles, from the mother's clan, are traditionally in charge of educating and training their nieces and nephews. The Haida also have a strong matriarchal system. With one senior women of high position holding the official title of Matriarch of each clan. Traditionally, the Matriarch controlled and directed a lot of the important decisions of the clan. Chiefs also held a strong role which involved war and others. These two were often either: grand/mother-son; aunt-nephew; or sister-brother and would work closely together. Historically, the Haida were a class based society with distinct separations and participated in the slave Caste System practised along the Northwest Pacific.