The clans' relative status had no effect on relationships outside of Clan Gatherings. At home, each clan was fully autonomous. However, while the clans were gathered, their relative status determined the hierarchy of each person. Status dictated which clans got the most favorable locations, who led the hunts, who received prominent roles in the Bear Ceremony, and who was served first. The leader of the highest-ranked clan became, in effect, the leader of the entire Clan, because he was the highest-ranking member. However, as a practical matter, clans were left to govern themselves even during the Clan Gathering. A clan's status was determined at the end of the Clan Gathering by several factors: the clan's performance in the men's and women's competitions, the relative positions of its mog