The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-24
NAMES FOR $1,000 INDIANS
DIR. CHARLES A. EASTMAN'S TASK
NEARLY COMPLETED.
To This Fun Hooded sioux Was Give" the
work % FINDING New Names for the
slOuN-A -NOmencIature Of English an1
Indian Words I'm sheer Combinations


Indian Words I'm sneer Combinations
AMHERST. Mass, Nov. 23.-Dr. Charles
A. Eastman COhiyesa) has nearly completed
his task Of remaining 10000 Sioux Indians.
He has recently returned here from Pine
Ridge reservation in South Dakota after
his fifth season on the name giving JOB as
agent Of the United States Government.
A full bloOded Sioux. he IL a graduate OK
Dartmouth College OF the class OF 1887 and
Of Boston University Medical School. he
writes books. and seizures In a dress suit
like the most decadent paleface.
Remaining the Indians has been Govern
ment policy since Harrison's administra-
ton. Tn agents on the reservations were
supposed to work at 1t. but M a whole
they have not done 30 systematically or
successfully. They have known too little
Of the origin and poetry Of the old roots.
and their relation with their charges has
been too artificial for the best cooperation
or most sympathetic study Of the problem.
The past that fitted the old Indians names
is dead. New names are required 20 suit
actual conditions. The allotment OF lands
makes Il part iculaTly necessary hat family
names be assigned TO the Indinas. 30 that
deeds can be given and records made.
II the Indian is to become a citizen and
vote, the added need for a systematic
nomenclature is very obvious.
Young copper face. grinding beside
scions of Puritan stock who spend their
Harvard years playing tag with Boston's
police or ambushing stage entrances. hnds
IL no easier to demonstrate his theory
before giggling freshmen II the professor
has TO call him up as Mr.. Drowsy Coyote.
Carlisle's left guard may have a name with
advertising value, but IL the boss every
time he wants tho new Office boy to polish
I'D the handle of the big front loo has TO
address, him as Mr.. Afraid-of-a-Bea the
silent impersOnal machinery OF business
Creaks.
The present remaining enterprise as
sumes IL TO be highly desirable that the new
names retain as much Of the distinctive
Indian favor as is possible. consistent
with practical, everyday business use. An
English form Of the original. shortened
enough TO be practical, yet reminiscent OF
its origin. seems in the majority OF cases
most desirable. Relatives are grouped
under one surname so far as possible.
| English equivalents consisting OF two
words are commonly united in one. Such
are these names just given: Reuben An
otherday. Albert Blacktomahawk. Alfred
Greyeagle. James ~Brownsinew, Ezekiel
~BrownthundeT.
Many impossible unwieldy names are
got rid Of by using the English translation
or a modification of it. Abraham Tamila-
yanka, whose urname means always here.
becomes Abraham ~Alwayshere. John Wa
nowicaqu. whose top heavy surname means
the one who lends the arrows. can now
stand erect as John Arrowlender.
Albert acknowledgements. a tongue tan
RIer. which means the bull hat lies down.
lessons friction by becoming Albert Bull
down. John Pretty Bald Eagle will find
less temptation to vanity as John Bald
eagle.
John Bluehorse's name did not appeal
much to DIR. Eastman, who perhaps could
not bear to have his Indians accused Of
unfaithfulness to nature. But MIR. Blue
horse was attached TO the destination he
had summered and wintered many years.
and having no descendants he was per-
mitted to keep it.
Old poetic names are retained so far as
possible, sometimes as middle names.
| James Brownsinew's mother has become
Nancy Daybreak BrOwnsinew.
Derisive names are put out OF sight.
! John Ground Hog escapes responsibility
for February weather by becoming John
Badger. Louise Don't Know How escapes
by marriage her name given in derision.
and will seem more feminine as Mrs. Louise
BirdneCklaoe.
Many Indians prefer the original I'M
translated titles which they may have used
for some years in business transactions
and cattle branding. II such names are
| decently ~pronounceable they are often
preferable.
Mr.. Tapetala. whose name is euphonious,
seems much more digniied than he would
have appeared under the English equiva-
| ent Little Back. MIR. Chansu would gain
nothing by taking the English form. Seed Of
Tree. hardly descriptive Of a %strapping big
fellow.
Mr.. Matoska has a name as easily handled
as the translation. White Bear. Alfred
Bear ying-Over-the-Wate hard TO pro-
vide for in the English form. is better on by
keeping the old Indian word minus a letter
or two. and 80 he goes as Alfred Minjakiyan.
The old nomenclature was given under
half a dozen differing methods. II was
made I'D Of individual names. NOT family
| titles transmitted from father to child.
An Indian would often give a certain
name to a reservation agent. and when
rounded up by the next statesman that
captured the plum would turn in one OF his
other names. saying nothing about the
designation previously given. Hence end
I, less confusion.
Christian names given by missionaries
and schools are very general. Then there
is the nearly obsolete custom OF the ten
I prenatal names. one Of which used to be
given to each child. according to sex and
order Of birth.
These were for boys: Chaske. Hepanna.
Hepida, Chatanna and Hakeda; II for
girls. Wenonah, Hapanna. Hapstinna. Wan
skela and Wihakala. Chaske and Wenonah
survive among some branches OF Sioux.
The most common type OF Indian sur
name 10 that given by a father or village
leader in honor Of some characteristic
or exploit OF the father or other ancestor.
Simple names Of some admired animal OF
bird are common. as Gray Eagle.
Many names symbolic by some gesture
or act Of animal or bird an exploit or q
characteristic. Bear Looking Around recog.
nizes the alertness Of some ancestor sym