Their authority was moral and social rather than coercive.

A chief who made bad decisions would find his followers choosing a different chief.

A chief who demonstrated consistent good judgment, who led successful raids and defended the community effectively, who treated his followers generously and with respect, would accumulate a following that constituted genuine political power.

Woman Chief achieved the third-highest rank in her band of 160 lodges.

The specific calculation of what that meant — which person held first rank, which second — is not preserved in the historical record.

But third in 160 lodges means that she was recognized as more authoritative, more respected, and more capable of leadership than nearly everyone in that community.