Answer:
Each Chinook village had a headman, or chief. He (or she) was made leader because everyone in the village respected him.
A famous chief was Chief Concomly (1754 - 1830). He lived on the Columbia River at the present day Fort Columbia, across from Astoria, Oregon.
He is the most famous chief because of his location near the mouth of the Columbia River and he met most, if not all, of the traders from around the world and was the first Chinook headman they met.