Social and Political Organization
Our knowledge of the social and political organization of the River Yuman tribes comes from the early historic period, when their numbers had already been largely reduced by diseases. How this reduction in population might have impacted their sociopolitical structures is unknown. The following accounts come primarily from Mojave tribe, the group for which the ethnographic record is most complete.
Unlike the other groups we have studied, the Mojave had a true tribal consciousness and considered themselves to be one people living in a single nation. They glorified in their shared identity and considered people outside the tribe to be inferior and dangerous. A tribal chief headed the tribe, though it is unclear whether this position existed prior to contact. Like other leaders in Mojave society this head chief received his position and power through dreams. However, unlike other leadership positions, the role of chief was also said to be inherited through the male line. Because the notion of inherited leadership is otherwise at odds with Mojave ideology, many anthropologists believe this was a post-contact development. Though the chief was expected to look after the welfare of the tribe he had little actual authority.
Beneath the level of the tribe the people were organized into a loose division of bands and local groups. Each band had one or more subchiefs, who obtained their positions through dreams validated by a group of elders. Whether or not these dreams would be validated depending largely on the man's personal competence and qualifications, and the power of a leader's dreams had to be continually authenticated by his success in handling various matters. Beneath the bands were the individual rancheria settlements, also loosely headed by leaders who had received their positions in dreams. Like the tribe's head chief, these leaders had little real authority; according to Mojave norms, important matters were decided by consensus. Marked differences in wealth did not exist.
Chief Juan Chivaria, Maricopa subchief, with wife and daughter, ca. 1871
Source - http://sirismm.si.edu/naa/73/06706200.jpg with the caption.
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