sachems
A sachem is a title used in some northeastern Indigenous societies to denote a paramount chief or leader of a town, village, or confederacy. The term originates from Algonquian languages and was widely adopted by European observers in the contact period to refer to various indigenous leaders. Because practices varied among different nations, the exact meaning of sachemship could differ from place to place.
In general, sachems functioned as political and diplomatic leaders. They led councils, mediated disputes, negotiated with
The role and power of a sachem often overlapped with other leadership positions within a given polity.
Historically, sachemship evolved under pressure from colonial encroachment, disease, and changing trade dynamics. Today, some communities