She didn't make herself a chieftess...

Picture is from BRF Powwow, 2013.  Good to go back home every now and then.  I feel like I am returning home or perhaps at least somewhere comfortable and familiar.  I have been going to this powwow for over 40 years and it is still apparent to see that people are from different clans, know their kinships, know the songs of our ancestors, and know who the Chiefs or clan leaders were/are.  As I take in the powwow and hear the familiar songs, even to me who does not speak fluently, I often wonder about my place in the tribe.  There are many descendants from GOM, primarily following the Decorah line.  One can argue that it should be down the patrilineal line, but women are so vital to the Creator's plan that how can anyone dismiss a woman's lineage?  My line goes back to GOM through White Woman (first born) > Shachipkaka (first born) > Spoon (first born) > GOM.  I am a first born.  I feel connected, and yet not.

I raised Choka's flag this Memorial Day.  It felt good.  There are very few Decorah's in this celebration and from what I understand through oral tradition, there still is some reluctance to accept us Decorah's.  Some say it dates back to GOM and that would be around 1610 or 11, when she was born, and about 1628 or 1629, when she was elected Peace Chief at a Grand Council meeting after Chief Thunder died.  She was his only child as oral tradition goes.  There was no one qualified to take his place.  When Choka related the story of GOM, he retold the story he had heard from his grandmother Elizabeth Decorah, who was married to Doctor Decorah.  Doctor's mother was White Woman Decorah.  Choka laughed when he said GOM was a Chieftess, he didn't think it was right that a woman should be a Chief, but true to oral tradition, he recounted our family's and tribe's history to me; stating that GOM was a Chief.  My earliest recollection of Choka talking about our family history was when I was in Kindergarten or just 5 years old.  The last time he recounted the story to me was in November of 1994, and it was the same story.  He died the following month just before Christmas.

As I struggle to find my place in the tribe and in the world, I know that GOM didn't make herself a Chieftess.  No, she had to be elected.  She had to have the approval of the various clan leaders.  (Up to one half of the tribe split at Doty Island over this decision, 7 to 5).  She had to be of good character, strong and true.  She had to be fair, peace loving and enterprising.  These traits common among the Ho-Chunk women that I admire: Bonnie Clairmont, Myrtle Long, Adelia, Alvina Foss, Juanita Cleveland,  Buelah Sayers, Maxine Kohlner, and so many more.  It is easy for me to see the leadership qualities in these women, and I personally would have no problem if by some miraculous means one of them were to become a Peace Chief.  It has happened before.