The Delta independent., 1906-07-27
REMAINING THE SIOUX.
SOME TWENTY-FIYE THOUSAND
INDIANS ARE RECEIYZNG
CHRISTIAN NAMES,
Educated Indian Tribesmen Selected
by the Great Father" to Re-
christen Braves-Bob-tai Coyote
Become. Robert T. Wolf.

Uncle Sam has recently inaugurated
a unique and Ingenious project in con-
nectiOn with his Indian wards-or
at least the most populouS division
OF them. This is nothing less than a
scheme for remaining every chief and
brave, every squaw and papoose OF
the Sioux tribe. The object of this
wholesale rechrstening is 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
fancifuI name. a cognomen which most
likely had not the slightest resemb-
lance to those of any of his relatives.
The remaining of the 5000 mem-
bers of the Sioux Indian tribe was or
dered by President Roosevelt on the
advice of Hamlin Garland and George
| Bird Grinncll. well known authors,
and other persons who have made a
study of the needs of the Indians.
To dccid" upon the naming was
however an easy matter in comparison
/ to the actual carrying out of the
strange undertaking.
TSPICIONS OF THE INDIANS.
The President and his advisors real
lied from the outset that II 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 DIR. Charles Alexander
Eastman. highly educated physician
/ and clergyman. who Is a full-bloOded
Sioux. and who came into national
prominence some time since when he
married Elanc Goodale. the talented
young New England poetess. At the
Presidents solicitation DIR. Eastman.
who Is considered the best educated
Indian In the world. agreed TO person.
all! undertake the task OF inducing his
lpeoplc TO adopt the system OF family
names desired 10y the government.
| just what this responsibility meant
Twill he better understood when II Is
explained that not only WAS DIR. East
Imam to visit all the Indian villages OF
1.-THE Sioux tribe and personally bestow
names but be must also devise or in.
went the new names. Just imagine
lsclcCtinE given names for 2J.pD per
jsons OF both sexes and apportioninI
IpCrhaps half as many or one third as
lmany different family names in ad
ldition.
In this portion Of his novel mission
larry work for Uncle Sam the Name
lGiVcr. rs the Sioux now term their
lcducatcd tribcsman. has displayed rare
Judgment and n fine regard for family
history and tradition among the Sioux
Ia thou:htfulncss that has don"
much TO win the good will OF th"s"
Intelligent but conservative Indians
for the new project. Whenever p"~
ls!blc he has perpetuated an Indian :
lold name In his new one. For instance
High Eagle becomes Mr.. Highcacl,'.
lBoh-tnilcd Coyote was changed Ia
Robert r. Wolf. and Rotten rumph
has been transformed into Rol'Crt
Ipumpian
DR.. Eastman has been making a
round Of all the Sioux rcSrrvntinn>
which are located for the most part
In the Dakotas and elsewhere in IL"
Northwest. When he arrives at q
branch agency, or tribal headquarters
FOR the purpose OF notwithstanding the
inhabitants his first move is TO have
a conference with the chief men or
counselors Of the place. They. In turn,