User:Candiesrgood/Sandbox I/MN Cree

1500–1505

 * The Plains Cree Confederacy, under Supreme Chief Asinīyeo (ᐊᓯᓃᐃᐤ, Asinîyew), begins to centralize due to the notion of Cree technological inferiority (especially in regards to its southern neighbors, the Sioux Empire). A prefectural system is established, with each of the thirty prefectures containing approximately ~50,000 inhabitants (equivalent to about a thousand villages). The prefect – who controls the regional garrison – serves as the representative of the Supreme Chief, and as such, his/her duties consist largely of enforcing local law and order, as well as protecting the Cree's territories from foreign incursions. Meanwhile, the Grand Council is relegated to a legislative body, though the High Chiefs retain substantial power and prestige. Meanwhile, five ministerial bodies are established to assist the Supreme Chief in administrative duties. All of these positions will be appointed by the Supreme Chief – however, with the discretion of the Grand Council. These are the Board of Domestic Affairs, which manage civil appointments and state ceremonies; the Board of Foreign Affairs, which is responsible for foreign trade and receiving foreign missions; the Board of Justice, which enforces the criminal code and serves as the highest court; the Board of Finance, which collects tribute and census data, as well as revenue from the sales tax; and finally, the Board of Public Works, which is responsible for overseeing government construction projects. Cree Constabulary, which is under the de jure control of the Supreme Chief, still functions as the de facto local government in the frontier territories, however. Meanwhile, the Three Cities (Sipicuascosia, Osawacesis, and Osawecin) are united under a single metropolitan perfect under the direct rule of the Supreme Chief and the Grand Council. It is named "Otoscuanic" (ᐅᑑᐢᑲᐧᓂᕁ, Otôskwanihk), a reference to the sharp bend made by the Bow and Elbow Rivers, as well as the reeds traditionally used for longbows. Despite these reforms, Cree society remains largely-localized around dispersed clan-based village communities. Despite the Confederacy being rural and agrarian with the few industries – such as the production of textiles, leatherware, and alcohol – being concentrated in the Three Cities, it still maintains a relatively high degree of wealth due to its lucrative exports of sunflower oil, apicultural products (honey, mead, and wax), timber (including pulpwood), and most importantly, furs and hides from bison. With higher quotas placing increasing pressure on the villages for the extraction of tribute, many larger villages begin to establish enclosures to better monitor the bison herds, as well as workshops specializing in the processing of furs, hides (to leather), furs, and meat. Many of the villages also begin to intensively-cultivate the land to grow grain, legumes, and squash for food as well as fodder – causing a shift from horticulture–pastoralism to mixed agriculture.