werowance

A werowance was a hereditary sachem or chief of a Native American tribe in the Powhatan Confederacy. The term comes from the Powhatan language. These chiefs held significant authority within their territories, which were often referred to as "werowanceships." The werowance was responsible for the governance, defense, and well-being of their people. They were often advised by a council of elders and had roles in ceremonial and spiritual matters.

The power and influence of a werowance could vary depending on the size and importance of their tribe. They were intermediaries between their tribe and other tribes, as well as with the paramount chief, Powhatan. The English colonists encountered several werowances, including the notable Chief Powhatan himself, who was the supreme leader of the confederacy. The structure of leadership, with werowances reporting to a higher authority, was a key organizational feature of the Powhatan Confederacy. The werowance system reflected a complex political and social organization among the Algonquian-speaking peoples of the coastal Virginia region during the early colonial period.