"The whole camp, even to the oldest warriors and women, gave full approval of the new choice of chiefs, for they were both honorable men and of the Awahu. The Awahu (Left Behind) is the village/band the head chiefs are chosen from."
We know about the Sahnish Chiefs through oral tradition, written reports from European visitors, and the work of ethnographers, and historians. The recorded list of chiefs dates back to the 1700’s. Some are captured in photos and stories. Based on reports from Spanish explorers in the 1500’s, ethnographer’s estimate the Sahnish Nation was as large as 30,000 people organized in 40 bands across what is now Nebraska and into Missouri. Historical records provide names and dates of chiefs dating back to the Lewis and Clark journals and the first treaties signed in the 1800’s.
By the 1700’s Sahnish population decreased due to war and disease and twelve bands were led by four head chiefs representing four of the bands. Each of the four head chiefs had three subchiefs under them. “The four head bands were; Hukawirat (eastern band), tuhkatakux (Village Against a Hill), tuhkasthanu (Buffalo Sod Village) and Awahu (Left Behind)”. (Yellow Bird, 2003, p131). Head chief of the Awahu was chief over all the Sahnish Nation.
Oral history recounts that; the tribal chiefs determined tribal movements. Historically these movements played an important role in the success of the Sahnish Nation. Over thousands of years the Sahnish moved from Central America to North America successfully growing and trading corn in a broad range of climate zones.
Orderly movement of huge tribes began with Scouts riding out in search of appropriate sites for a new village. Movement of a village, like the movement of the tribe into the Medicine Lodge followed a special order. This was observed by Europeans who reported seeing a long line of Sahnish numbering over 10,000 traveling towards the Missouri River. Hukawirat (eastern band) first followed by the bands representing the four directions. The Awahu, the southwest band was always the last.
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