Kalinagos Essay

341 Words2 Pages
Political Structure This was not as rigid or as well defined as the Tainos. The position of chief or Ouboutou (Ubutu) was not hereditary. It was NOT passed down from father to son. Instead, the chief was elected on the basis of his prowess that is his bravery. As a result there was constant rivalry for leadership. The leaders also changed frequently. The chief's main duty was to organize the people in his community for hunting, fishing and war. He had the most duties during war time. He was responsible for planning the raids. He chose the captains of each canoe (piraga). A canoe could hold up to 50 persons! He shared out the prizes or rewards to those who were successful in the hunting expeditions or the raids. At the end of an expedition he could lose his position if someone proved to be braver than he was. On their return home, that person would automatically replace him. In peace time, the villages were ruled by the Tiubutuli Hauthe. He did not dispense justice that was considered to be a personal affair. If someone did you wrong, you were expected to avenge yourself. There were very few laws. The men were away too often on raids or hunting and fishing expeditions. When they were in the village, they spent most of their time undergoing warrior training. The ouboutou was the chief of the Kalinago society - one had to defeat or kill several enemies in battle to be elected to this position. In essence, he was chosen because of his prowess in combat. Lesser governors for their villages, who ruled in times of peace, assisted the ouboutou. These men were called tiubutuli hauthe and carried out duties such as supervising the fishing and cultivating as well as leading in social ceremonies. Other leaders included the nobles and priests (boyez), the latter's primary role being that of a religious nature. The duties of the ouboutou included: a) presiding
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