Final answer:
Men in the Kiowa tribe needed to exhibit traits such as experience, wisdom, generosity, and community service to become leaders. Positions varied from war chiefs to peace chiefs, with the latter often being more mature and experienced individuals. Leadership was often based on personal merit and was not strictly hierarchical.
Step-by-step explanation:
To become a leader within the Kiowa tribe, men needed to exhibit a certain set of traits and experiences. As seen in the political structure of the Plains groups to which the Kiowa belonged, there were positions such as war chiefs, who were typically younger men, and peace chiefs, who were older with more experience. Eventually, these war chiefs would gain enough experience to become peace chiefs or council members, providing future stability to their governance.
Leadership in the Kiowa society, similar to other native societies, was not as hierarchical as in other cultures and depended on personal merit and community service. Informal leaders might rise because of their ability to manage resources, their generosity, and their verbal skills. Additionally, in most hunter-gatherer societies, including the Kiowa, leadership could be spontaneous, with different individuals leading in various activities such as hunting or religious rituals. The leader would usually receive counsel and be selected by a group of elders, where women's input was significant.
Ultimately, to move up in ranks or become a leader in the Kiowa tribe, a man would need to demonstrate wisdom, experience, generosity, prowess in different aspects of tribal life, and the ability to serve the community effectively. These qualities helped establish one as a respected member of the Kiowa society, capable of leading and making decisions for the betterment of the tribe.