Each hunter must share his catch with everyone in his camp, so that everyone is either full or hungry.

The Mushuau Innu did not have chieftains or regular leaders. Since no one could tell others what to do, leadership was exercised indirectly. Even advice was not given because it was interpreted as unreasonable interference. Among the wild reindeer hunters no one controlled access to the resources. The person who took the initiative to go hunting became the leader for that hunt.

After moving to the village that the Canadian authorities had built, the Mushuau were instructed to elect a tribal council and a chieftain. It has taken a long time to adjust to a system where authority is delegated to a chieftain and a council with the power to make decisions on behalf of others.