Cally's Tribe (so named in this wiki) was a criminal cult that appeared in The Tribe.
Background
Not much specific information has been revealed about the past of the "tribe". It was founded and led by Jackson Cally, a highly intelligent ex-convict. Following his conviction for auto theft, he spent 22 months in prison. While there, he found religion and preached to his fellow inmates. After being released, he studied Native American culture at different universities. During this time, he presumably recruited members for his own "tribe", calling himself "Grandfather". He claimed to have based it on love, but his real motive was to start a war between Native Americans and Caucasians, not unlike Charles Manson's Helter Skelter scheme. They made a home of sorts in an abandoned motel in the Terra Mesa desert.
The Tribe
The cult's first known act of violence is an attack on five students having a party in an empty building, which begins the events of the episode. Ingrid Grieson, a member of the cult, apparently acted as a double agent, but is abducted by two men hired by her father. Even though she is taken, the rest of the cult (except Cally) proceed with the attack. The BAU, with help from John Blackwolf, a reservation police officer, deduce that the perpetrators are copycats with little to no practical understanding of Native American culture. The team then figures that the American Defense Union, a movement founded by local businessman Roy Minton, could be responsible as the Native American community were in constant legal feud with them regarding the ownership of the land. After questioning him, however, the BAU figure he is innocent, but still ordered local police to place him under surveillance. Since the ADU can't take any action to strike back, the tribe attempt to provoke them even further by killing Minton and his family, plus a policeman watching Minton.
At this point, Ingrid's abductors has turned themselves in and explains that her father had hired them to get her out of the cult, the tribe's attack simply coinciding with the abduction. When Reid questions her, she answers every question with her name and social security number. When Hotch and Blackwolf brought her to the Minton residence, she calls Blackwolf a traitor and everyone living in the desert trespassers, revealing the approximate location of the motel in the process. When the BAU go there, they find Cally alone. When they question him, Blackwolf's presence causes him to reveal his true, racist motives. They then figure the tribe's next move will be to stage an ADU attack on a Native American school in the area and head there. Hotch and Blackwolf arrives first and manages to knock out three of the six attackers. When the other three realize that the police are here, they retaliate, forcing Blackwolf to fatally stab one of them and Hotch to shoot and kill another. The remaining attacker surrenders. Cally and the remaining members are then presumably incarcerated.
Profile
The methods of killing used on the students had religious significance, but only to the tribes that practiced them. They were described as "confused imitations" by Blackwolf. It is highly unlikely that a single tribe would mix them all, suggesting that the unsubs have theoretical knowledge about Native American culture, but no practical understanding of it. The group shares a singular vision which may be religious faith, racist ideology, political manifesto, etc. Each member has surrendered its individual identity to the group. Ingrid's abduction led the BAU to believe that the group was a domestic terrorist organization similar to the Symbionese Liberation Army that abducted Patty Hearst. Ingrid's behavior suggests that the members think of themselves as Apache, even though none of them are ethnically Native American, but their beliefs are different from Native American religions, such as their belief in a Messiah. In addition, the rituals performed during their crimes were an eclectic mix of those of many different tribes.
Modus Operandi
The tribe's murders were all committed brutally. When they killed the five college students, all of them were skinned alive (except around the areas of the wrists and throat, where the arteries and veins are closest to the surface of the skin, to avoid having the victims bleed out) and killed through various Native American rituals (one victim was impaled through a spike). During the massacre at the Minton house, they used the same M.O. as with the college students, with the exception of the police officer that was sent to watch the family, whose throat was slashed with a knife out of necessity. When they attempted to commit a massacre at the Native American school, the tribe members used an assault rifle, a shotgun, and several other rifles (all of which were stolen from the Minton house during the massacre), as well as at least one hunting knife.
Members
- Jackson Cally (leader; incarcerated). Portrayed by Chad Allen.
- Ingrid Grieson (apparently a double agent; presumably incarcerated). Portrayed by Skyler Shaye.
- Six other unnamed members (two deceased and the rest incarcerated). All portrayed by uncredited actors.
Known Victims
- 2006:
- March 5: Five college students killed at the abandoned house (all were skinned alive and killed through various Native American rituals):
- Ingrid Grieson's unnamed boyfriend
- Four unnamed others
- March 7: Six killed in the Minton residence massacre. They are:
- The unnamed police officer watching the family (incidental; slashed his throat)
- The Minton family (all were skinned alive and killed through various Native American rituals):
- Roy Minton (father; also stole his firearms)
- The unnamed mother
- Three unnamed daughters
- March 8: The attack at the Native American school:
- Numerous unnamed teachers and students (intended to shoot)
- John Blackwolf (attempted; a member tried to stab him)
- Aaron Hotchner (attempted; a member shot at him, but missed)
- March 5: Five college students killed at the abandoned house (all were skinned alive and killed through various Native American rituals):