The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-07-27
REMAINING THE SIOUX.
SOME TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND
INDIANS ARE RECEIVING
CHRISTIAN NAMES,

by the "Creat Father" TO Re
christen Braves -Bob.tailed COyot
Becomes Robert r. Wolf.
Uncle Sam has recently inauguratet
q unique and ingenious project IN con
nectiOn with his Indian wards
at least the most populous division
of them. This ID nothing less than
scheme for remaining every chief ant
brave, every squaw and papoose 81
the Sioux tribe. The object Of this
wholesale notwithstanding Ia to 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
fanciful name, cOgn0men which most
likely had not the slightest resemb-
lance to those of any Of his relatives.
The remaining Of the $4,000 mem
bers Of the Sioux Indian tribe was or.
dered by President Roosevelt on the
advice Of Hamlin Garland and George
Bird Grinnell, well known authors,
and other persons who have made
study Of the needs Of the Indians.
To decide upon the naming was
however an easy matter In comparison
to the actual carrying out Of the
strange undertaking.
Suspicious OF THE INDIANS.
The President and his advisors real
lied from the outset that 1t would be
one thing to give the Indians new
names and quite another to induce the
sons and daughters Of the forest
ever suspicious Of the white men-to
accept and use these new names.
However, the Great Father at Washing
tor was fortunate enough to enlist the
cooperation Of DR.. Charles Alexander
Eastman, a highly educated physician
and clergyman, who Is full-blo0ded
Sioux, and who came into national
prominence some time since when he
married Elaine Goodale, the talented
young New England poetess. At the
Presidents solicitation DR.. Eastman,
who is considered the best educated
Indian in the world, agreed to person
ally undertake the task Of inducing his
people to adopt the system Of family
names desired by the government.
Just what this responsibility meant
will be better understood when it is
explained that not only was DR.. East
man to visit all the Indian villages Of
the Sioux tribe and personally bestow
names but he must also devise or in
vent the new names. Just imagine
selecting given names for $4,000 per-
sons Of both sexes and apportioning
perhaps half as many or one third as
many different family names In ad-
dition.
In this portion Of his novel mission
airy work for Uncle Sam the Name
Oliver, as the Sioux now term their
educated tribesman, has displayed rare
Judgment and fine regard for family
history and tradition among the Sioux
"a thoughtfuIness that has done
much to win the good will Of these
intelligent but conservative Indians
for the new project. Whenever pos
sible he has perpetuated an Indians
old name in his new one. For instance
High Eagle becomes Mr.. Higheagle,
Bob-tailed Coyote was changed to
Robert T. Wolf, and Rotten Pumpkin
has been transformed into Robert
Pumpian
DR.. Eastman has been making a
round Of all the Sioux reservations
which are. located for the most part
in the Dakotas and elsewhere in the
Northwest. When he arrives at a
branch agency, or tribal headquarters,
for the purpose Of rechristening the
inhabitants his first move is to have
q conference with the chief men or
counselors Of the place. They, In turn,