1. Our government vs, others

It is very elaborate and complicated, others are not. The danger is that when you don't see "our type", you are apt to say, they don't have a government. They do, even if they don't have - king, president, congress, etc.

Some tribes do have elaborate government set-up:

• Incas (Peru), Aztecs (Mexico) - lots of levels.
• Sioux (Su) - not one group, but 20 groups banded together.
• Iroquoi - a nation of their own. Also there have been confederation between American Indians. (600 diff. languages in U.S. at one time.) Rather than thinking in terms of "complicated set-up", to think in two areas - internal order, external relationships.

2. Definition: (Keesing)

"... the cultural arrangement by which a group shares rights in a territory and organizes for mutual services including defense in that territory.

3. Features (characteristics of PoO (that have been listed) a. common membership and loyalty

b. shared tradition and symbols

c. a way of maintaining order within

d. a way of handling external relationships (with other groups)

B. Importance to missionaries:

1. Initial Contact

The missionary's initial contact is usually on a governmental, political level. Any contact with outsiders brings their political organization into play. Handling external relationships - and missy is "external" - till he's incorporated. The way they handle outsiders is the way they'll handle missionary. Need to come in on a different level - sponsorship.

2. Finding power-structure:

Recognizing that all groups have a PoO, a government for external control, finding the power structure (leaders) will avoid unnecessary trouble and resistance. Not compromising the message. Persecution against message is different than against us. If it's only against us because we're different, it's different. We are commanded to submit to governmental leadership. It is of God (in tribe too). ""Honor the king", etc.

3. Understanding other ways (they may have several) to leadership: This will help in seeing leaders appointed in the church. "Face to Face" society has less formal leadership, because they know who the leaders are. The help of knowing about the leadership among the Tiv. Avoid misunderstanding.

4. Conceptual Gap:

Realizing the gap that must be bridged before they'll understand ideas like - God reigning, etc. In translating the gospel - you don't know how much your own concept is built on government.

a. God "reigning" (what does that mean?)

b. God "judging" (what does that mean?

c. God "enthroned" (high-chair)

d. God "holding a sceptre"

e. God "having a kingdom"

f. God "having armies"

g. God "giving authority"

We think this is simple. To others this is highly complicated. They have never heard of delegated authority. (Someone has the right to tell someone else that he has authority over someone else.)

h. The "judgment seat" of Christ.

i The "great white throne"

j. Explaining"imputation" (the giving of righteousness by God). This is basic to our doctrine of "eternal security". The book of Romans is a courtroom book and is considered the explanation of how God saved us.

To the extent that we present the gospel from this viewpoint we need to know:

- the tribal form of government

- the gospel form of government

- create a teaching bridge

II. FINDING POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

A. Ideas about territory:

1. The boundaries of their territory, what are they?

2. Their right on their territory, vs. others (outsiders).

3. Has not only to do with outsiders, but covers all levels.

family

village

clan

a. Family - basic governmental unit

1. Internal order

2. External relationships (between families)

3 Leadership

(they may wait till clan or village level till they recognize territorial rights)

b. Village

1. Internal order

2. External relationships

3. Leadership

c. Clan

1. Internal order

2. External relationships

3. Leadership

EX.: Yuroks

They had rights to certain fishing places. These rights were passed from father to son. Anyone who fished there had to pay the owner the fishtails of the fish he caught.

Eskimos

They regard the land and the game as belonging to everyone is as much they are all at the mercy of "the great woman" who lies at the bottom of the sea and sends out the game.

Cuebo

The Cuebo feel the area is theirs because of traditions of origin of their ancestors. But only a sib is truly concerned with its territory. The extent of its territory is only "measured" along the river as the jungle back of the gardens is darkness. It is not land but river frontage that is valued. Land hunger would not be a problem as they find the idea of cultivating land someone else has cleared as repulsive.

4. What does their territory mean to them?

a. Economically

They know where the best land is, for producing food, finding material for bows, arrows, etc. It'll be precious to them because they know where to get the things and where to grow these things.

b. Historically

No history because no history books? NO. Historically their territory will be precious to them because it'll be associated with their parents and ancestors. They"ll know where certain famous experiences took place. (This is where grandfather died, uncle so and so fought). The

land will be alive with vivid memories.

c. Religiously

In this way it will be valuable and familiar. They will know where the

"spiritually dangerous" places are. They'll know where to perform

certain ceremonies, etc. It's like a map in their minds when they move

around. (Where you build your house may determine how much they

will visit you.)

d. Illustration

The government wanted to move some of the Sina Sina, because they were greatly overpopulated. Farm the hillsides, but the sweet potatoes were getting smaller and smaller because of lack of land. They had provided another place for them. But they flatly refused. Why? Their land provides a framework for their way of life. It was good farming land, but where there were dangerspots, place to get arrows, etc. Government hadn't thought about that.

5. Ways to assign territory:

a. Hunters rights to land he hunts on

b. Areas allotted by leaders

c. Areas inherited

B. Internal Order (control)

1. Government

a. Defined:

The way internal order is maintained. The organization in a tribe for keeping internal order and organizing external defense (contact). Sometimes this is highly organized, at other times it is very informal. NOTE: Social control should go here. But it's so important that we'll take it up separately. It's how they maintain law and order - types of penalites, rewards, etc.

Obviously, unless there are rules that are accepted by all there is no basis for government. These rules need not be written, and their execution may be carried out in a way that would hardly cause you to feel they are rules at all.

b. Leadership

1. Types of leadership

a. Counsel - Tiv

b. Chief (s) - recognized authority of one man or several.

c. Shifting thing - varies with different activities.

(If it shifts, you may have to cover a lot of activities before you know who the leader (s) is. Can't just ask: "Who is the chief?"

d. Openly recognized (overt)

e. Hidden (covert)

EX.:

Seneca Iroquois

The Iroquoi's were divided at three levels. The village chief had a council of up to 20 men, a chairman. The men were representatives from each clan. Each tribe had a national council composed of all the village chiefs. At the Great Council were 49 voting representatives from all 5 tribes Special prominence could be achieved by men who were outstanding:

1. A patient and thoughful man, indifferent to gossip, could become a sacnem chief.

2. An eloquent man with a good memory and indestructable poise might become a council speaker.

3. The stern and ruthless warrior might become a noted war captain or official chief.

Ashanti

They had a chief who listened to cases when opponents had sworn the Forbidden Name of Wednesday.

Asinat

They had war chiefs who headed up the revenge raids on other villages They give the signal to start the attack.

Manus

Leaders are the older men in the village who have the greatest economic power and therefore the greatest social power.

Gururumba

The 'leaders' among the Gururumba are men of prestige or renown. The characteristics essential are physical strength, oratorical success, a forceful character, heading a lineage, etc.

Tobrianders

Those with least economic wealth - people owed them.

2. Authority of leaders

a. Extent: over how many areas (people, activities).

b. Degree: what pressures can he bring to bear. What are the limits to which he can go?

c. Types:

- inherited

- delegated...how did Tiv Mbatsav get his authority?

- achieved

EX: Iroquois had 3 levels

i Village council (chief spokesman, 20 clan reps.) Had authority over local issues such as use of hunting grounds, relocation of houses and fields, etc.

ii Tribal council (village chiefs) debated major issues of external policy.

iii The Great Council dealt with matters affecting all 5 tribes.

(relationship to enemies)

3. Function of leaders

a. compelling

b directing

c. How do they go about making decisions?

d. Who executes penalties, judgments?

4. Leadership - based on:

a. Religious areas - Tiv

b. Economic wealth - Tobrianders (the ones who had least).

c. Power

d. Kinship - Kapau

C. External Relationship

1. General:

The contact with outsiders will vary from group to group, and the reason for the contact will vary. Like:

a. Economic Relationship

Trading with other groups. Todas, Kotas, Badaga have an economic relationship with one another.

b. Social Relationship

Exchange marriage among the Tiv.

Intermarriage between the tribes in lowlands of Columbia

c. Religious Relationship

The curipacos were the religious priests for the tribes around.

The Todas provides cattles for sacrifices. The Kurumbi sold

'insurance'.

2. Warfare:

a. Reason for:

NOTE: Why am I dwelling on this one more than the others? Because we are so blind to this area. See only one reason for warfare - force to accomplish political aim. Need to stop and think about this area.

1. Prestige

a. Kapau - fighting was a whole way of life for them. This is how a man got significance - when he became a warrior.

That's a man a woman wanted to marry. They would use kids to stone

b. Apache - With them women were as fierce as men. Early traders said: I'll take my chance with the men any day, don't get me into those camps with the women. What did they mean? They would bring prisoners and tie them to a stake, and the women and children would carve them up

Simbari - the purpose for warfare was to get more gardens.

2. Utilitarian (practical purposes) (Otherwise you can't get what you need.)

a. To get wives - Guicas (how else do you court?)

Kambot, N.G. Girls will capture a boy for a girl to marry.

b. To get captives, slaves for sacrifices - Aztecs. Didn't fight to kill. Got into trouble when the Spaniards came.

c. To get a garden - Kami.

d. To get engagement ring - Illongots (head)

e. To kill - Spaniards.

3. Defense

Some do it only in defense.

4. Recreation

5. Exercise

6. Revenge

b. Methods in:

1. Skills required - physical, tactical.

2. Ideal behavioral patterns in - what is bravery and what is cowardice. Plains Indians: their technique was to come upon from ambush and to obtain honor, not necessarily by killing him, but slapping an armed enemy was counted greater than military honor, then carrying off the scalp.

3. Treatment of captives

4. Personel used - all men?

- special class?

- men and women?

5. Rules - some societies have rules regarding warfare:

Maoris - no fighting during harvest.

- if enemy lacks food, send them some, so they'll be stronger to fight.

EX:

Seneca

The men and boys formed war parties. The prime time for war was the fall.

Ojibway (?)

The bravest act was not killing ... but when he dared touch an enemy with a bare hand or a harmelss stick called a coupstick, or boldly to steal a horse from the middle of an enemy camp. All the rest of his life he could wear a feather as a record of the coup.

Klinkat

Who fight by giving ... destroying.

Asmat

Allied villages under chief's direction attack another village. Before going they and wives have a dance in front of the ceremonial house. The women gather food for the victory dance.

c. Importance to missionaries:

1. The Bible is filled with it (warfare).

2. Example: "Gird up the loins of your mind." (1 Pet. 1:13)

What does that mean? Men in those days wore kilts. This meant - get ready, get freedom of movement. "Prepare your minds for action". Gspd. If we knew how they fought we would know what the Bible is talking about.

d. Relationship to other universals:

1. Mat.Culture - the weapons they use, the fighting areas, the elevation, the mode of transportation.

2. Economics - gaining gardenland, and slaves (for work), production of weapons and distribution.

3. Soc. Org. - gaining wives. "Backing up"marriages (avenging ill use of a sister married "outside" the group.)

4 Religion - spiritual place of those who die in battle, rites, (ceremonies) necessary to wage successful warfare.