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Show 120 BASIS OP AMERICAN HISTORY [ 1800 majority of the tribe held entirely aloof or even sympathized with the United States, yet were not regarded as in any sense renegade to tribal obligations. Little is known of the social organization of the northern Athapascans, but there is probably no clan system in operation, except in the case of the Carriers and possibly a few other tribes, where its nature pretty definitely proves its derivation from the Indians of the coast. 1 In general the two units are the immediate family and the local village group, but the latter is often unstable in character. The complex and elaborate religious ceremonials of the coast tribes are replaced by comparatively simple shamanistic practices. Prayers and observances are all directed towards mysterious, spiritual powers which are believed to pervade every phase of nature. The main object of every boy or girl is to obtain one of these spirits as his supernatural helper, who will then remain his guardian through life and to whom is given the credit for any success he may achieve. To acquire one of these guardian spirits is the object of the puberty ceremonials, which are particularly well developed in this group. As puberty approaches, the boy goes away by himself to an isolated spot, the peak of a mountain or a desert place, and there passes days or weeks in fasting and violent physical exercise * Farrand, " The Chilcotin," in British Assoc. Advancement of Science, Twelfth Report on the Northwestern Tribes of Canada, 18. |