This article describes decision making leadership and political organization among the indigenous Nambiquara of Brazil. The author describes the Nambiquara before their contact with Western civilization. The Nambiquara live in western Brazil near the Bolivian border. Their habitat was discovered around 1910 and then ignored until around 1960 when a road was built parallel to the old telegraph lines. The region is a mix of savanna and forest. Villages are comprised of two or three thatched houses of related kin. Trees are felled for gardens and left in place before burning which provides the soil with nutrients before the bush takes over. Gardens include staples such as corn and manioc as well as beans peppers tobacco cotton yams and sweet potatoes. The Nambiquara move away after all the good gardening places are used up. Meat is obtained by men hunting with bows and arrows. Animals are only raised as pets. Women are responsible for gardening. The associations of men with animals and women with plants is captured in the symbolism of songs the shape of rituals and the meaning of their myths. Sharing is a basic value. Although there is no word for "generosity" there is a word for "stinginess." Important decisions are made by consensus even though this is a slow process. Men are the political authorities. When a member of the group is unwilling to maintain the group norms he leaves to live elsewhere. The Nambiquara identify the village as their social group and recognize one leader ("a capable one") per village. Leaders must be hunters and gardeners generous wise and not bossy. The relationship between leaders and followers is influence and not authority. Political life is a balance of individualism and equality and shaped by abundance.