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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In light of the present conversations regarding
"wa", I have a question regarding the use of "<EM>wa</EM>" in Omaha/Ponca.
Please understand I have little formal linguistic training.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In Ponca we have "<EM>ni'the</EM>" -to heal.
"<EM><U>Wa</U>ni'the</EM>" translates as "THE healer" (Jesus). In this sense, it
seems to me, "wa" acts like a "personifier" (correct term?).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We have "<EM>xu'be</EM>" -holy or mysterious.
"<EM><U>Wa</U>xu'be</EM>" translates as "sacred thing", "sacred bundle", etc. We
find "<EM>ni ni waxu'be</EM>" for "sacred pipe". </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Similarly, we find "<EM>wa sa'be</EM>" -
"<EM>sa</EM>" or <EM>"sa'be</EM>" meaning "black" - for "black
bear".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Then there's "<EM>washa'be</EM>" -
"<EM>sha</EM>" often having a translation such as "grey", "in a mist", "in
between black and white", "a dark object -like on the horizon". </FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=2>Joe HairyBack (Ponca) (have this on tape) said
"<EM>wa<U>sh</U>abe</EM>" clan is the "buffalo clan" but the word means "buffalo
in a mist or a fog...you can't quite make it out".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>La Flesche (1939) calls the War Ceremony
"<EM>Washabe Athi^n".</EM> Jablow points out <EM>"</EM>the Washabe gens,
one of the gens in charge of the tribal hunt, 'was the same as THE NAME OF THE
CEREMONIAL STAFF used by the Omaha leader of the annual tribal buffalo hunt, and
also of that subdivision of the Omaha Honga gens..."</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To throw one more wrench in the engine -in light of
the discussion regarding "wa wa" - </FONT><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>La
Flesche (1939) has <EM><SUP> </SUP>WaWa </EM>as<EM>
"</EM></FONT></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>the Peace Ceremony" (although I
think this comes from <EM>wa'o^n</EM> <EM>-</EM>to sing or song).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In light of the present conversations regarding
"wa" and its uses, how do these examples fit in?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>wi'btha hai ho!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>TML</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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