Southern Water tribe

History

Originally, there was only the Northern Tribe. Then later on, a large group of fighters, waterbenders and healers moved to the south pole, since it was just like the climate they lived in in the North.

Because they were very far apart, they evolved very differently. For instance, in the Southern Tribe, anyone can use waterbending to fight were as, in the North, only men can use their bending to fight, and women and girls have to learn to heal. Also, Girls have arranged marriages in the North, and can marry anyone they wish to in the south.

Members of the Southern Water tribe also began to travel the world. In doing so, they found the foggy swamp. Due to the amount of water, those benders decided to stay there, and lived in isolation, not even returning home to the Southern Water Tribe.

Because the Southern tribe was separate to the Northern one, it couldn't compete in economic growth. Because of this, many Southerners took up piracy to earn money.

Hundred Year War

As you see in Avatar: the Last Airbender, the Southern Water Tribe was badly damaged, with all the waterbenders like Hama taken prisoner.

In the last few years of the war, the Fire Nation's Southern Raiders killed Katara's and Sokka's mother, Kya because they were sent to kill the last Waterbender, which was Katara. Kya pretended to be the last waterbender to protect Katara.

Government

Before the end of the Hundred Year War, each tribe was ruled by its own chief, but after the war, Hakoda was elected Head Chieftain, making him the Southern Water Tribe's head of state.

Customs

One of the Southern Water Tribe's major customs is for boys to practise ice dodging as a coming of age ritual. Ice dodging is where the boy steers a boat around huge icebergs, trying not to hit them.

Korra's Time

After the war the water tribe was rebuilt into a grand city under the rule of Chief Tunrok. In Korra's time the southern water tribe is shown in book 2 (the worst book) where they are shown neglecting the spirits and turned a spirit festival into a funfair, Korra then opened the portals under instruction from chief Unalaq of the northern tribe. After Unalaq merged with Vattu (the dark spirit) Korra used spirit projection and fought Unavattu.

For more info on the Southern Water Tribe, go listen to our companion podcast episode: open.spotify.com/episode/1JlIu6VDmmYCKG6lqH1Itz

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