Tonkawa+Families

=__Tonkawa families __= The Tonkawas lived in family units called "bands" upon which the social structure was base. Since the bands were considered family units marriage within the band was discouraged. Intermarriage between bands was encouraged. Children became members of their mother's band and the husband moved in with their wife's band. A system was designed so that widows and orphans were taken care of. Orphans moved in with the band of a mother who took them in. For widows, a brother would marry his deceased brother's wife. If the deceased had no brother another male from his original band (usually the son of a sister) would do this duty. Every male was designated a brother, no matter generation. Therefore, sons called their father and his "brother" both "father". The same was with females. A sister would marry //her// deceased sister's husband. Every female was designated a sister, and daughters called their mother and //her// "sisters" "mother". = = =__Our Sources __=