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The Council of Forty-four was one of the two central institutions of traditional Cheyenne Indian tribal governance, the other being the military societies such as the Dog Soldiers. The influence of the Council of Forty-four waned in the face of internal conflict among the Cheyenne about Cheyenne policy toward encroaching white settlers on the Great Plains, and was dealt a severe blow by the Sand Creek Massacre. The Council of Forty-four was the council of chiefs, comprising four chiefs from each of the ten Cheyenne bands plus four principal〔Hoig 1980, p. 11.〕 or "Old Man" chiefs who had previously served on the council with distinction.〔 Early in Cheyenne history, three related tribes known as the Heviqs-nipahis, the Sutaio and the Masikota, unified themselves to form the Tsé-tsêhéstâhese or the "Like Hearted People" who are known today as the "Cheyenne." The unified tribe then divided themselves into ten bands: * Heviqs-nipahis * Hévhaitanio (''Heévâhetaneo'o'') * Masikota * Omísis (''Ôhmésêheseo'o'') * Sutáio (''Só'taeo'o'') * Wotápio * Oivimána (''Oévemana'') * Hisíometanio (''Hesé'omeétaneo'o'') * Oqtóguna * Hónowa (''Háovôhnóva'') Council chiefs were generally older men who commanded wide respect; they were responsible for day-to-day matters affecting the tribe〔Greene 2004, p. 9.〕 as well as the maintenance of peace both within and without the tribe by force of their moral authority.〔Hoig 1980, p. 8.〕 While chiefs of individual bands held primary responsibility for decisions affecting their own bands, matters which involved the entire tribe such as treaties and alliances required discussions by the entire Council of Forty-four.〔Hoig 1980, p. 12.〕 Chiefs were not chosen by vote, but rather by the Council of Forty-four, whose members named their own successors, with chiefs generally chosen for periods of ten years at councils held every four years. Many chiefs were chosen from among the ranks of the military societies, but were required to give up their society memberships upon selection.〔 ==Military societies== (詳細はウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Council of Forty-four」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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