The compadrio system (the special relationship between the godfather of a child and that child's father) that operates in the Umã Hills, superimposing itself over kinship, seems to provide, more than the ethnic ties, the most important element of union among the inhabitants of the hills, even though it often extrapolates the limits of the ethnic frontier.

The Atikum political organization is made up - by imposition of the tutoring organ (first the SPI and then the Funai) - of a cacique, or chief (the role of representative of the community in its dealings with the national society, in addition to internal counseling), a pajé, or shaman (who takes care of the Indians' health) and representatives of the villages, who form the tribal leadership. All holders of these posts should be chosen in elections, but factionalism has caused the permanence in the leadership positions of those who have coercive power, in special marijuana producers.