What does the Native American title Chief mean?

Origin:

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French chief, chef, Old French chef < Vulgar Latin *capum, re-formation of Latin caput head

Chief is an ironic title in this book. The character of Bromden is not in charge of anything, and has no power to affect his own life. He is called chief because of his Native American heritage, and the word is used sarcastically. Bromden was his white mother's maiden name, and at some point he was forced to take it as his last name instead of being allowed to use his father's name.

Common slang in that time period to refer to all native men as "Chief" - pop culture thing from the mainstream white culture.

It would be comparable to using the name "Juan" say for all Mexican men, regardless of actual name or station.

PS: Explaining why the word would have been used in the book & movie....not addressing meaning to native communities as that's not why it was used in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

A chief is the person who controls the tribe and is in charge, the leader. This is not an American Indian term, it's quite a common English word to describe anybody in charge. The word 'chef' is the French word for chief but meaning the top man in the kitchen.

Thats actually an english word. There is no such word in my tribal language. Here is the definition of Chief :

chief

/CHēf/

Noun

A leader or ruler of a people or clan.

Adjective

Most important.

Synonyms

noun. head - leader - boss - headman - chieftain - commander

adjective. principal - main - leading - cardinal - prime - capital

There are no translations for this word in my language, as there is no and has never been a singular leader in my tribe. non-natives used the term "Chief" to describe those in my tribe with political power, of which there were many. This includes Chief Seattle, Chief Kitsap, Chief Waholtchu, Chief Chu-altooh, and Chief Leschi. They did not give this title to any of our female political leaders. These men (and absent from white history books, women) served as elected leaders for the general region. Individual tribal families/villages (synonymous in our ancient culture) were governed by elders. Cultural expectations of Self-dicipline also made each village inhabitant responsible for their conduct.

The term Chief, in my opinion, is too loose a term to describe what WE call siʔab. The difference? A person can describe himself as a Chief in English. In our language, it is improper and out-right arrogant to call yourself siʔab. Others must give you this title, AND, you can never refer to yourself as having it ;)

After more people in my tribe mastered english, we dropped the term "chief" entirely.

"Chief" isn't a native american word in any of our languages. It's an English word, the label they slapped on our leaders.

My Tribe doesn't have any chiefs, never did. We have a president of the tribal council.