Sagamore

As Sagamore leaders of the were Abenaki - Indians referred to the indigenous people of northern New England in the United States belong. The position was not strictly hereditary, but there was a patrilineal tendency for its passing on. The term Sagamore probably comes from the word Sakema from the language of the Eastern Abenakiand was used by them for local leaders. A Sagamore was usually the head of a large family. He expanded his family and gained relatives through as many marriages as he could adequately provide for women. He developed fatherly relationships with relatives and unrelatives to expand his influence. Sometimes he was also a shaman , a quality that increased his charisma and influence in general. Bashabes , a Kennebec leader , was an exceptional example of such a man. His authority had extended over all of the Eastern Abenaki.

literature

• Bruce G. Trigger (Ed.): Handbook of North American Indians . Vol. 15. Northeast . Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC 1978 ISBN 0-16004-575-4