Tribal chief



A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society. A chiefdom is the form of government in the Water Tribe and ancient Sun Warrior civilization, and appears in certain clan groups in the Earth Kingdom.

Water Tribe usage
The head of the Water Tribe government bears the title chief. Both tribes are governed by the chief of the Northern Water Tribe; the Southern Water Tribe, founded as a colony of by northern settlers, is not governed by a separate ruler. The chief is assisted in making decisions by a small council of notables, such as the waterbending master Pakku.

The position of chief is hereditary, and conveys significant social prestige: the sons and daughters of the chief are referred to as princes or princesses. Prior to the Hundred Year War, there were frequent marriages between the royal family and prominent southern clans: however, the disruption of the war and the isolation of the south led to the tribes drifting further apart, and the chief's actual role in the south was reduced to little more than a figurehead.

The title "chief" is sometimes used for local leaders such as Hakoda in the context of the Southern Tribe; however, this is an informal title of respect and does not imply similar power due to the more egalitarian nature of southern society. Decisions in the south are made by a of Council of Elders comprising the most respected members of the southern community.

As of 171 ASC, Unalaq was the chief of the Water Tribes. As part of his drive for centralization, he attempted to increase his control over the mostly autonomous south, leading to the beginning of a civil war. However, after Unalaq was killed during Harmonic Convergence, the Southern Water Tribe was declared independent by Avatar Korra, and her father, Tonraq, became the new chief.

Earth Kingdom usage


Certain Earth Kingdom tribes and clans, such as the Gan Jin and Zhang, elect members of their community to act as their chiefs. These chiefs typically make important decisions for the groups and serve as repositories of tribal lore. The term is also used to refer to the leaders of the small, primitive tribes located in the northwestern river marshes of the kingdom.

Sun Warrior usage
The Sun Warrior civilization, long believed extinct, was likewise led by a chief of considerable importance, though with the decline of the culture the chief's power likewise waned.

Known chiefs

 * Arnook (Water Tribe)
 * Tonraq and Unalaq's father (Water Tribe)
 * Unalaq (Water Tribe)
 * Tonraq (Southern Water Tribe)
 * Leader of the Gan Jin
 * Leader of the Zhang
 * Lin Yee (Northeastern Earth Kingdom tribe)
 * Chief of the Sun Warriors