Natives (Arrana)

The **Native peoples of Arrana** are the pre-Colonial peoples of Arrana and their descendants.

Although some indigenous peoples of Arrana were traditionally hunter-gatherers—and many, especially in the southern woodlands, still are—many groups practiced aquaculture and agriculture. The impact of their agricultural endowment to the world is a testament to their time and work in reshaping and cultivating the flora indigenous to Arrana. Although some societies depended heavily on agriculture, others practiced a mix of farming, hunting and gathering. In some regions the indigenous peoples created monumental architecture, large-scale organized cities, city-states, chiefdoms, states, kingdoms and empires. Some had varying degrees of knowledge of engineering, architecture, mathematics, astronomy, writing, physics, medicine, planting and irrigation, geology, mining, sculpture and goldsmithing.

Many parts of Arrana, especially in the Buff, are still populated by indigenous peoples. Many also maintain aspects of indigenous cultural practices to varying degrees, including religion, social organization and subsistence practices. Like most cultures, over time, cultures specific to many indigenous peoples have evolved to incorporate traditional aspects but also cater to modern needs. Some indigenous peoples still live in relative isolation from Tannosian culture and a few are still counted as uncontacted peoples.

## Cultural Groups

The Natives of Arrana are split between three principle groups: the Seeonee, Nyconee, and Pijunee/Panca.

### Seeonee

The Seeonee, or Plains People, are the most populous native humans in the Union. They also have a sizable population remaining in the Buff.

The Seeonee can be subdivided into 3 groupings: The Principle Clans, Southern Seeonee, and Integrated.

#### Principle Clans

The Principle Clans are the 5 primary clans of the Seeonee People. Their domain extended inland a great deal into what is now the Union, going as far east as Rymark. However, in more recent times they have been exiled to the Buff. The Principle Clans were the 5 clans of the Seeonee who made peace accords with the Union early on. They are seen by the Union and the Old World as the most "civilised" native peoples.

The five clans are, from largest to smallest: Alacroix, Painee, Lucenne, Athee, Segadi.

The Principle Clans recieve slightly more recognition from the Federal government and have small land grants within each state to allow for Native communities to reside.

#### Southern Seeonee

Southern Seeonee is a term used to refer to those Seeonee who have remained pastoral and whose traiditonal lands have always been outside of the Union. They still see the Union as invaders and many view the Principle Clans as weak for capitulating to the invaders. The Southern Seeonee are made up of around 3 dozen or so different clans.

#### Integrated

Integrated is a term used in the Union for Natives who have shed their family background and have fully assimilated into modern Union culture.

### Nyconee

The Nyconee, or Northern People, are the Natives who live in the northern areas of the Buff and, originally, along the northern coast of the Union. They are made up of a vast number of clans and subdivisions with hostility toward outsiders ranging from highly aggressive to merely standoffish. The only clans recognised by the Union are the Nipawak and Sagash clans who once resided in the Toroll Territories.

### Pijunee/Panca

The third grouping are the least studied by modern academics. They are known by the Seeonee and Nyconee as the Pijunee (Meddish: *Other Folk*), however they use the endonym Panca to describe themselves. They are also sometimes referred to as the Forest People. They have had the least contact with the Union. Their language and religious traditions are known to be very separate from the Seeonee and Nyconee.

They have tended to be hostile to outsiders, rarely making contact even with their Seeonee neighbours.

They are said to retain great kingdoms within the woodland and rainforests of Southern Arrana.