Indian societies were governed in a centralized and organized way. For example. In the Mississippi Valley, societies were governed by a powerful ruling class and priesthood. In addition, some Indian communities were organized into chiefdoms and confederacies. This can be seen in the Eastern Woodlands in which the Algonquians and Iroquois were classified as chiefdoms. These chiefdoms contained one individual with preeminent power over a community. Also, matriarchal confederacies were formed in which councils consisting of various leaders took part in managing the community. The Iroquois Confederacy, for example, consisted of many tribes which acted together in making decisions. This can also be seen in the Great Lakes where the Anishinaabe
