The traditional role of women in okanogan society

Women played distinct and decisive roles in the Okanagan society. In the material aspect of daily living, they cared for the families and were gatherers of nuts and plant food while also playing an important political and social role as guardians and custodians of the Relationship Society.

Explanation:

The Okanagan or Okanogan people are today a trans-border community of Native American Indians. Their traditional historical geographic territory spans from the Okanagan River beginning at the point of confluence of the Columbia River in the Washington state´s north-central region of the United States of America to the Okanagan Lake in British Columbia in its south-central region in Canada.

Recent statistics claim these American Indians who speak a language known as an Interior Salish are said to be about 2100 in number. They were semi nomadic. In the summers they moved from region to region wherever food could be got, building temporary  huts and tents made of  mats, skins and canvas while in the stern winters, semi subterranean lodges are dug.  Their  basic staple diet consisted of  salmon got from the Okanagan River however, animal meat got from elk, deer and bison were consumed as secondary option. The leather from these animals were certainly welcome for clothing and shelter protection.

The men were hunters and defenders of the communities while the women were gatherers. Plant foods and nuts like huckleberries, bitter root and camas bulbs were considered the woman´s chore.  

Four main teachings were used as guides of the Okanagan culture and tradition and helped to maintain the laws and norms of their society. They were  the Four Societies. This is an ancient methodology of social order inherited from past generations. These were the Tradition, Vision, Relationship and Action Societies. The women were responsible for the Relationship Society, they took care of the impacts and influences of decisions taken and the  effects these could have upon the community, its people and Mother Nature.  

Thus, the women were custodians of the Okanagan society´s tradition. Apart from the responsibility of family care, the woman had a traditional role of maintaining a spiritual equilibrium, balance and in a respectful way between the society, the people and nature.  

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