CJ names

[David D. Robertson]

Howdy,

What's a "squaw dance"?

Each of these folks in Splawn's examples has what I'm calling a "Jargon
name" in two parts:  First a CJ descriptor, whether strictly an adjective
("Cultus" = "useless") or almost certainly not ("Klat-a-wa" = "walk / go");
and second a given name of European origin.

Of what ethnic heritage were the people named below?  I've got my own
strong hunch, since this was in the Fraser Valley of BC.  A reliable answer
to this question might contribute much to unraveling the puzzle of CJ
personal names.

About the Jargon names you mention, Scott, are these all Indian people?
All Makah?  I wonder what's known of how they came by those names.  (Far
and away my favorite is "Boos Boos Boy"!)

Klahawiam,

Dave


On Fri, 9 Nov 2001 19:09:05 -0800, Mike Cleven <ironmtn at BIGFOOT.COM> wrote:

>George Lang wrote:
>>
>> In the winter of 1861-1862, the "old settler" A. J. Splawn recorded the
>> following names at a "squaw dance"in the Fraser Valley: Skookum
>> Dan, Cultus Liz, Tenas George, Klat-a-wa Kate, Mam-ma-loose Jim
>> and Hi-a Jane.
>>
>> (A. J. Splawn. 1944 [1917]. Ka-Mi-Akin: Last Hero of the Yakimas.
>> Portland: Binfords and Mort / Oregon Historical Society, p. 175)