Clan Systems
These are a few of the wide assortment of clan systems and their traits. For more information check out our Clans Page or look up Clan Systems or Clan Traits. Have fun!
The Medicine Wheel
Gifts of the Animal Kingdom
The Clan System: Past and Present
Each person belongs to a clan that is represented by a Totem animal. The clan represents what a member has been before, is presently or will seek to become in this life.
Totems are physical representations of a spiritual object or event that has special or sacred meaning to the holder. Objects can remind us of an event or an experience in which we learned a valuable lesson. Having a physical object to remind us of these things is a good way of remembering, thus creating more positive energy and positive action. By thinking about the object and what it represents, we are more apt to put those lessons and learning into positive action.
Each animal has lessons that we can learn from, if we choose. Certain characteristics can be a strength or a weakness, depending an how we choose to utilize them. By recognizing our tendencies in certain areas, we can choose to use these to positive advantage. So, by identifying the animal we closely relate to, we learn the lessons that it can teach us, bringing us into closer relation with both ourselves and our Creator.
There are many clans, often related to the geography of the area where each tribal group lived. The Buffalo is more prevalent amongst Plains and Central tribes, because it was the main source of food, clothing and shelter for so many years.
For Coastal tribes, the clans often were associated with the ocean.
Some of those most common to the Woodlands area, or Ojibwa Cree and Sioux, were: Bear, Deer, Wolf, Eagle, Beaver, Hawk, Coyote, Turtle, Otter, Mouse, and Buffalo.
Clans were found or given in many different ways, according to each Tribal custom.
Clan Systems:
Ojibwa: For many Ojibwa peoples, the women took their mother's clan, and the males their father's. Exceptions were made for Medicine People or Healers, or in cases where one did not know the Clans of their parents.
In a patrilineal (male dominated) society, children take their father’s Clan. This might be done until the time of their adulthood rituals or for life.
In a matrilineal (female dominated) society, the reverse might be true, with the child assuming the Clan of the mother.
For some tribal groups, the child assumes a parent’s Clan until he/she is of age to seek his/her own, on a Vision quest or Fast. The child, or adult, fasts and prays for a number of days until given a Vision. The guardian, or clan animal may appear in the vision to pass on information, directions, knowledge or guidance.
In Manitoba, Clans are most often found or verified, by offering Tobacco and gifts to a Medicine Person who has the gift of clans. This may be done within the context of another Ceremony, such as in a Sweat Lodge. The Elder may Fast and pray until he is given the name. Some Elders use a Pipe to call for the Name and Clan. In Manitoba, most Elders request at least four days between the giving of Tobacco and the giving of a Name or Clan. If in doubt, ask!
In some instances, the child or person is drawn to a specific animal Clan from early on in life. They feel a strong bond or connection with it, often starting in infancy.
Historically:
The Clan one held often meant obligations and responsibilities with a profound effect in all areas of one’s life. It influenced one’s family relationships, social responsibilities, vocational choices, and choice of marriage partners. One could not marry within one’s own Clan. This encouraged marriage outside one’s own village, promoting a widening of the genetic pool. In a survival level society it was essential that each person contributed to the well-being of the family, village and tribe.
In matriarchal (female) Lineage societies, such as the Iroquois Confederacy, when a man married, he went to live with his wife’s family. Women owned the property, had custody of the children and homes.
In wartime, one Clan brother could not kill another, except in defense of women and children. One’s Clan influenced one’s choice of vocation in some ways. War Chiefs were frequently Eagle Clan. (However, no Turtle Clan could not ever be a war-chief. Story-tellers were often Turtle Clan.
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