"The (Chickasaw) tribe was divided into two grand divisions or moieties - Imosaktca and Intcukwalipa. The Imosaktca had precedence over the Intcukwalipa, which meant that the High Minko, the nation's principal chief, came from that division of the tribe. Each moiety was divided into clans or gentes, groups of blood-related families. The number of clans in both moieties has varied in Chickasaw history from seven to fifteen. They included the Minko - Chief, Shawi - Raccoon, Koishto - Panther, Spani - Spanish, Nani - Fish, and Hashona - Skunk gentes. Each clan or gen claimed a mythical origin and traced its genealogy to a common animal ancestor, a totem which served as patron saint or special guardian for clan members. Chickasaw clans were exogamic in that members were required to marry outside their clan and matrilineal in that descent was traced through the female line. Moiety and gens protocol included specific assignment by rank to each clan's location in the tribal town or encampment. For identity, the Imosaktca group painted across and above the cheek bones, the Intcukwalipa below the cheek bones. The principal clan in each moiety provided the Hopaye. His spiritual aides were selected from the lesser clans."

(The above was copied from The Chickasaws by Arrell M. Gibson, pgs. 18 & 19.)