The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-26
REMAINING INDIANS.


7artment appointing Hamlin Garland,
the well-known writer of Indian
stories, to revise Indian names of the
United States. is arousing much in
terest at the Indian school on the
Puyallup reservation. Maj. Frank
Terry, who is in charge of the school.
and also exercises supervision over the
reservations of northwestern Wash
ington, has made a study of Indian
names for the past ten years, and has
written much upon the subject.
The new order comes personally
home to the Indians all over the
country, as the changing and abridg-
ing Of the names of the Indians is a
part of Mr.. Garland's work. 1t has
been found that Indians in various
sections are named Unfortunately,
and it is impossible to tell by the
name the relationship of one Indian
to the other. This resulted in COM
plications daily on the reservations.
Maj. Terry talks Interestingly upon
the subject, and in an interview
says:
Transitions of Indian names, as
n rule, have been unsatisfactory,
though there are exceptions. The
case is reported from the Pawnse res
ervation. Oklahoma, of an Indian
named x-ruh-rah-ruk-koo The
literal Interpretation of his name as
given to me is Fearing -a-bear-that-is-
wild With this Interpretation the
agent named him Fearing B. Wilde
This is not a bad arrangement. but
there are many Indians whom l have
met with whose names could not be
so nicely altered. For instance, l re-
member a Grow Indian whose name,
translated, was 'Kilis-the-one-with-
the blue mark-in-the-center-of the
chin others l met were named Bob
tail-wolf-No. 8, Keeps-his- cad
above-water, 'Walk-in-th Water
'Rain-in-the-face, 'Crazy-horse, yell
low-bonnet,' and Afraid of his-ens-
my These names, Of course, are I'M
eouth, un-American, and uncivilized.
AS the Indian grows he commits
acts from time to time, each of which
gives him new name. For example,
he may see bear and run screaming
to tepee. The folks all laugh at
him and call MIN 'Afraid-o ola bear
Later on he may become the pos
SCISSOR of an unruly pony, which he is
afraid to ride, and then he becomes
known as Observation-Disclosures Or
he may mount horse from which an
other Indian has been thrown, and
he then becomes known as 'Rides-the-
horse. Further. he may become a
great hunter and kill many mild ami
mails. and he then is known as Five
BEARS and when he Stays another he
is known as 'Six-bears' He may per-
form valiant deed in battle, and ride
his horse through the camp of the
enemy, for which he becomes known
as Charges-through-t he-camp. Dur
ing the conflict he may kill one of the
enemy If his victim is the only one
slain he is known as 'Kills-the-en-
envy But if others fall, the one he
kills must be described in his name
as 'Kills-the-one-with-th e-eagle-feat
enthusiastically or, 'Kills-the-one-who-
rides-the-pony- with-the-bob-tail II
he braids in his hair yellow feather
which he has plucked from the tail
OF an eagle, he may be called Eagle
tail. 'Eagle-feather,' 'Yellow-tail >
'Yellow-feather.' If he gives it to his
friend he will be known as Gives
feather but If he keeps it, when asked
for 1t, he becomes 'Keeps-the-yellow
feather il he has more than one
feather
"Or he may obtain his name from
some other object. If he is aocus-
toned to ride what is known as a
calico horse, he will be known as
ke1 d.
a short tail, he will be known as Bob
tail-horse.' Now, the chances are
that he will be known by all the fore
going names. His enemies in the
tribe will continue to speak of him as
'Long-ears.' or 'Afraid-of-his-horse
while his friends will speak of him as
Rides-his-horse, 'Six-bears.' and
'Kills-the-enemy. For this reason II
occurs that you speak OF an Indian in
the presence of members of his tribe.
and call him 'Six-bsars. they may
laugh at you and say: That is not his
name;' his name is "Runs-from-a-
bear" But II you speak of him to
other Indians and call him Runs.
from-a-bear,' they will scowl and say:
That's not his name; his name is
'Kiils-the-enemy"
Hence it will be seen that the In
dian names are delusion and a snare.
and the practice Of converting them
into English is eminently wise.
William Penn. Fitzhugh Lee, David
B. Hill and William Shakespeare are
the names Of Indian policemen at the
Shoshone agency. Wyoming. l myself
have seen George Washington, John
Quincy Adams. Franklin Pierce, Rim
Van Wrinkle. Allan G. Thurman and
Hilary A. Herbert engaged together
in a game.