SOUTHBAND

âhu' - yes

SKIDI

hâ’u' - yes

Which dialect to you choose if your Pawnee family comes from multiple bands? Traditionally, the Pawnee were a matriarchal society, and bands were chosen based on the mother’s family. Husbands who married into the family from a different band were adopted into the wife’s band and their children were considered part of their mother’s band. But, colonization changed that, since most of Europe is patriarchal. So, if you’re a traditionalist, choose your mother’s or grandmother’s band. If you’re not a traditionalist, you can choose your father’s or grandfather’s band.

What if you don’t know which band your Pawnee ancestors were from? You can go to PawneeNation.org and contact the enrollment office. They are helpful, but they are also busy. You can also email me at [email protected]—I would be happy to help you learn more about your Pawnee relatives.

Nora Pratt says, hâ'u'

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