Long before written constitutions came to the Northern Plains, the nations who lived there governed themselves through well-developed traditions of leadership, counsel, and mutual obligation. The phrase governing manners captures something important about how these societies worked: authority was tied closely to conduct. How a leader behaved, with generosity, restraint, courage, and fairness, mattered as much as any formal title.
Leadership by example
Among the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota, as well as neighboring nations such as the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Apsáalooke (Crow), leadership was earned rather than simply inherited. A respected leader was expected to provide for others, to speak thoughtfully, to keep promises, and to place the welfare of the community above personal gain. Generosity was especially prized; a leader who gathered wealth mainly in order to share it widely gained standing, while one who kept it lost the trust of the people.
This meant that leaders led largely by persuasion and example. They could advise, mediate, and set a course, but they rarely commanded in the way a European monarch might. People followed leaders they respected, and a leader who lost that respect lost influence.
Councils and shared decisions
Important matters were brought before councils, where heads of families and recognized leaders deliberated together. These gatherings favored careful listening and unhurried discussion. The goal was to reach a decision broad enough that the community would stand behind it. This tradition of counsel is closely related to the Lakota concept of Oyate Omniciye, the gathering of the people.
Many Plains nations also relied on respected societies and appointed helpers to keep order during large gatherings, communal hunts, and movements of camp. These roles carried real responsibility but were bounded by custom and by the expectation that those who held them would act for the common good.
Virtues at the center of community life
Underlying this system was a shared set of values. Bravery, generosity, wisdom, and respect for others were taught from childhood and reinforced throughout life. These virtues were not abstract ideals; they were the practical foundation of a functioning society, guiding how disputes were settled, how resources were shared, and how decisions were made.
Recognizing these traditions matters for understanding the treaty era. When Plains leaders negotiated with United States officials, they did so as representatives of communities with their own long-standing systems of governance and law. Appreciating those systems helps correct the mistaken idea that the Plains were without government before 1851. To read further, see our articles on the role of elders and on tribal sovereignty, or browse the cultural preservation category.
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