(E.4-12) An Archival Review and Ethnographic Study ... - Idaho Power

FINAL REPORTtrade or barter food, material items, or horses. Marriages werefragile and divorces were readily obtainable. Both men or womencould be berdaches; each sex taking on the apparel and role ofthe other (Ackerman 1998:521).Nez Perce political modes, strategies, institutions, andpractices start with the extended families that occupy a village.A village council, consisting of family heads, was led by anelder able man of exemplary status or "headman" (Walker1998c:425). Shamans could hold the office also. Other youngermen assisted the headman in his duties. This position wasrestricted to males, often semi-hereditary, and required theheadman be the village spokesman, mediating intra-villagedisputes, and providing for the general welfare of the village.The headman could influence but not override the council wishes.Several adjacent villages would form a 'band' and the bandcouncil consisted of a headman and other notable men from eachvillage. With the adoption of the horse, Nez Perce bands sawtheir most permanent political and social integration (Walker1968:14). The individual band had as its main function thedefense of the band territory and armed aggression withtraditional enemies (e.g., Shoshone and Northern Paiute). Thehorse and subsequent magnification of hostilities contributed tothe definition of the band and the promotion of strong bandleaders (Anastasio 1972; Walker 1968:13). The various bands weredistinct from one another by differences in language dialects,ecology, and economy.Above the band level, there were four multiband regionalgroups, task groups, or composite bands, which Walker (1968:15)has identified as Kamiah, Salmon-Wallowa, Lower Snake River, andLapwai-Lewiston. (Parenthetically, Walker (1968:15) identifiestwo of the four multi-band groups (Lower Snake, Salmon-Wallowa)that lost their territories and were non-existence by the end ofthe Nez Perce War of 1877.) At this level, leadership was only atemporary affair and only lasted the duration of the activity.There were two types of leaders at the composite band level:headman and chief (Walker 1968:16) or peace and war chiefs(Spinden 1908:242). The peace chief had responsibility for theeconomy and distribution of economic goods and services. Thepeace chief advanced and supported feasts and dances. The warchief, on the other hand, was required to have at least 10 coupsor scalps in order to warrant the title. The war chief wasresponsible for conflict and open warfare. Both leaders hadpeople who served as criers for the chief's intentions,51