Natives

Up until the subjugation of North America's indigenous population by European elements, native societies operated under a communitarian guise. Kinship and communal obligations were intrinsic characteristics of tribes ranging from the western seaboard to the Maritimes of the east. Complexities pervasive in European socio-political hierarchies were alien concepts to the native North Americans. In the following few paragraphs, I will develop a synopsis on the simple yet effective forms of government in respects to two native Canadian societies; Hunters of the northern forest and Farmers of the North. Means in which leaders are selected will also be discussed.

Communitarian aspects of Native Canadian society was briefly touched upon in the aforementioned, but now we will take a closer examination of the simple political structures of the hunters of the northern forest; more specifically, the Athapaskan- and Alqonquian- speaking tribes. Due to their nomadic way of life, these particular native societies resorted to small-scale forms of sustenance. In regards to political activity, two leaders were established, each corresponding to their individual seasonal assignments. One headman for the winter bands, while one was chosen for the summer bands. "Superior [hunting abilities], married, skilled [in oration]" were the most important characteristics of a winter headman, while the leader of the summer bands was simply the most respectable member of the kinship. In essence, these seasonal headmen held no sustainable hegemonic influence over his electors due to the communal attitude of their culture. All decisions were made through consensus, devoid of arbitrary advances.

In contrast, the Iroquoian- speaking societies of the farming north structured political positions in order to appease a systematic framework, similar to the multi-functioning ruling establishment in Europe but satisfying intrinsic means of equality and the manifestation of consensus. Due to their rather fixed settlements and proportionally larger populations, a highly-organized form