The smallest social unit in the Bunak society is the clan or the house, which for example, in the upper Lamaknen is called "deu". Several clans live together in villages ("tas"). Each village has its own territory. The clans have a different status. The clans of the nobles are called "sisal tul" (meaning, bones piece). The name derives from a ritual in which the bones of an animal that was sacrificed belonging to the noble clan. The highest of the nobility houses belong to the clan of the "feminine" chieftain. This man decides in case of problems in the village. The second highest clan represents the "masculine" chieftain who takes care of the village's relations with the outside world. Other clans are the consultants of the village chefs. Despite their extensive power (), the two chiefs are subordinate to the ritual chief. This has a limited power () within the affairs of the clan. Together with one of his sisters, the ritual chief is also the guardian of the holy objects in the clan house. In Lamaknen the siblings are called "the man holding the black basket" () and the "woman holding the black basket" ().