Men, therefore, had to the sexual possession of the women. THE GENS is a form of family government. These were the warrior Indians of the Great Lakes in what is now New York State. Marriage between members of a Gens is prohibited. Property and parenthood is traced via the mothers.
Property remains within a Gens.
This does not mean that women are in control. And, when occasion demands, a War Chief. Each tribe has a tribal council. The members of the Council communicate the views of the gens to the council and the views of the Council to the Gens. The Confederacy has a Common Council.