The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-08-02
REMAINING THE SIOUX.
snMs TWENTY rrYE TH1Usa ND
INDIANS ARE RECEIPING
CHRISTIAN NAMES,
Educated Indian Tribesmen Selected
BY the Great Father" 20 Re-
christen Braves Bob-taiied Coyote
Becomes Robert T. Wolf.

Uncle Sam has recently inaugurated
q unique and ingenious project in con
nccfiOn with his Indian wards-ol
at least the most populous division
OF them. This h nothing less than a
scheme for Remaining every chief and
brave. every squaw and papoose OF
the Sioux tribe. The object OF this
wholesale rechristening Is 10 insure the
right descent OF property. something
that has been attended with much
difficulty under the old condition OF
affairs when the Sioux had no family
name and each redskin could be
Identified only by his OWN individual
fnnciful name. cognomcn which most
likely had not the slightest resenb
lance 70 those OF any OF his relatives
The remaining OF the 1900 mem
hers OF the Sioux Indian tribe was or
dercd By President Roosevelt ON the
advlce OF Hamlln Garland and George
Bird Grinnell. we'll known authors.
and other persons who have, made a
study OF the needs Of the Indians.
To decide upon the naming WAS
however an easy matter IN comparison
10 the acfunl carrying out OF the
strange undertaking.
SUSPICIOUS OF THE INDIANS.
The President and his advisors real
izsd from the outset that II would be
one thing TO give the Indians new
names aud quite another 10 induce the
sonS and daughters OF the foresf-
ever suspicious OF the white men-to
accept and use these new names.
However. the Great Father at Washing
t,r WAS fortunate enough 70 enlist the |
cooperation OF pr. Charles Alexander |
Eariman. a highly educated physician |
and clergyman. who ~ a full-blcoded |
Sioux, and who came into national |
prominence some time since when be |
married Elaine Soodale. the talented |
young New England poefess. At the |
Presidents solicitation Dr. Eastman,
who - considered the best eidcated /
Indian ia the world. agreed 10 person
alls undertake the task Of inducing his
people 10 adopt the system OF family |
names desired by the government.
just what this responsibility meant
viii be better understood when IL is
explained that rot only WAS Dr. East
man 10 visit All the Indian villages Of
the Sioux tribe and personally bestow
n mes but be must also devise or In
vent the new names. Just Imagine
selecting given names for 5000 per
NAfINN
perhaps half a. many or one third as
many different family names In adj
difion.
In this. portion Of his novel mission
airy work for Uncle Sam the Name
Girer. as the Sioux now term their
educated fribesman. has displayed rare
Judgment and fine regard for family
history and tradition among the Sioux
IA fhouehtfulncSs that has done
much to win the good win OF these
Intelligent but conservative Indians
Tor the new project. Whenever pos
sible he has perpetuated an Indians
Did name IN his new one. For instance
High Eagle becomes Mr. Higheagie.
Coyote was changed TO
Robert r. Wolf. and Rotten Pumpkin
1ns been transformed into Robert
pumplan
Dr. Eastman has been making n
round Of all the Sioux reservations
which are located for the most part
% the Dakotas and elsewhere In the
Northwest. When he arrives nc a
ranch agency. or tribal headquarters,
or the purpose OF notwithstanding the
inhabitants his first move Is TO have
conference with the chief men or
OF the place. They, In turn.