The account reminded me of similar communities with whom I have interacted. For example, among some Aboriginal Canadians, traditionally hunter-gatherers, the chief was identified as the one most capable of assuring the tribe's survival—by his skills and his ability to discern and accommodate the spirits prevailing in a given situation or time. With the arrival of the Europeans and the consequent impact on resources, the chief became the person most capable of 'playing the game'. This could mean corruption of the principles guiding the choice of a chief.