How did California chiefs gain their positions?

In traditional Indigenous California societies that utilized centralized forms of organization, the role of chief—also referred to as a tribelet leader—was generally an inherited position.1

These leaders served as the primary decision-makers and economic administrators for their communities, often working in conjunction with a council of elders, heads of extended families, ritualists, assistant chiefs, and shamans. While the position was typically hereditary, the specific customs regarding succession and eligibility could vary; for example, among the Pomo, women were eligible to hold the office of chief.1

It is important to note that this traditional structure differs significantly from the modern governance of rancherías or reservations, where officials are typically chosen through elections by the community.2