Sachem

Sachem ( Narragansett sachim ) referred to in the algonkinsprachigen indigenous people of New England the leader of a local community or " chief " as he had every major Native American settlements in the region. Into English, and later transferred to the German, the term was also applied to the Iroquois, although it is not common in their languages. In the northern Algonquian tribes of the Atlantic coast, this function was called Sagamore.

Stem in the Algonquian languages

According to John Smith, who traveled to New England in 1614, the Massachusett called their "kings" in the Massachusett language sachem, while the Penobscot in Maine today the expression sagamos used (hence English sagamore ).

Within the Algonquian languages ​​are available for the expression following word equations:

Sachem as a peace chief among the Iroquois

Friedrich Engels differed in his treatise on the " Iroquois gene " between the Sachem ( chief peace ) and Chief ( war leader ). He was elected by men and women from the same gene, the family membership of the maternal line followed. The Sachem had only moral force and no means of coercion. In the Council of the Iroquois Federal sat a total of 50 sachems composed of the individual tribes.

Examples

Known examples of sachems are Massasoit, Metacomet and his son Mahomet Weyonomon the tribe of Mohegan, who traveled to London in 1735 to apply to King George II fairer treatment of his people, because their countries were overrun by English settlers. Other sachems include Madockawando, Uncas and Wyandanch.

The Brotherhood of North American Indians called their chairmen Great Sachem.