Kin Groups and Descent. There are some twenty-two matriclans ( nakainaga ) recognized on Nguna; these are totemic, exogamous, matrilineal descent groups named for rious objects, such as fish, types of trees, food plants, etc. Of these a small handful can be considered "extinct," as they have no living members. Others, on the brink of disappearing, have undertaken to preserve themselves by "adopting" adult females who already have daughters themselves. Ties to the matriclan of one's father are also recognized and maintained with care.
Kinship Terminology. The Ngunese have a Crow-type kinship terminology.