The fully initiated older men and women held the greatest authority,
as they knew the laws very well. Aboriginal society was not
structured in a hierarchy. Instead people worked in groups and
shared the leadership. When disagreements occurred, the headman
of the social group sorted the issues out. This important position
was passed down from father to son as they shared a totem link
to a common ancestor. If there was an issue that concerned the
general community, an informal
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council would
be put together and usually consisted of only men. There were no 'kings'
in Aboriginal society, as many people have been inclined to believe.
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