Waya Federation

The Waya are a sprawling federation of 40 smaller tribes. They work in mutual support while respecting each other’s ways, so some are more structured and hierarchical and some retain their old matriarchal ways. The largest is the more structured Ibiwa nation, ruled by a powerful leader and his warriors, who provide protections for the other tribes, while the smaller tribes are much more varied. Other tribes are the Qendwa, Tiba, Wekane, and Ibkawe.

The entire federation is run by a council known as the Gsedwin, which has representatives from every tribe, one from the smaller ones, ten from the Nibwa, and some in between. In total, there are about a million people in the Waya Federation.

Every tribe sends at least one warrior to the Federation’s informal defense force, called the Okwichda. Most send more than one.

Every tribe and nation has a mix of species present. Some have more of one species than another, but all are mixed. This is part of the way they have survived for so long.

There are many variations by tribe, but the common factors of their cultures include the following:

• A shared religious perspective that honors nature and the world. They honor a figure known as Nimoye, Mother Shem.

• Similar stories about animal and plant spirits.

• Believing they have a responsibility toward the land that they claim as territory rather than dominance over.

• Respect for a diversity of gender and sexuality, though this has some variation. Collectively they refer to anyone as Zho’ who would be called trans or queer in other cultures, but every tribe has their own terms and variants.

• A shared language also called Waya.

• Collective feasting before winter called Qondwen and one before the first thaw called Ginde.

Waya Federation Leadership / The Gsedwin

Deche of the Tiba
Kana'takana of the Wekane
Osome Somea of the Qendwa
Qanmeah of the Nibwa
Tanahe of the Ibkawe
Vocho of the Nibwa

Okwichda Warriors

Borqede of the Nibwa
Manende of the Ibkawe
Taru of the Wekane
Umde of the Tiba
Wansare Mukate of the Qendwa

Ibkawe

Feko, elder
Namteqa, turned into a tree
Xocho, healer

Nibwa

Equ, leader of the weavers
Jocho, wife of Noedne
Gimaw (leader) Noedne

Qendwa

Azaqe Ameka, elder
Lani Ameka, Zho' child
Qalquma, keeper of lore

Tiba

Ibaska, respected hunter
Pahakonee, explorer
Yanebee, keeper of the lake

Wekane

Ganeke, prophet
Hosha, dance leader
Zamzhore, Zho' spiritual guide

Other

Riome, multitribal messenger
Sarseqa, multitribal guide