Mixed blood, etc.

[pasxapu]

...my pardon.  I meant to give the correct expression [siwash koosho]
'seal' and NOT [sitkum koosho]!

Phil

> -----Original Message-----
> From: pasxapu [mailto:pasxapu at dakotacom.net]
> Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2002 9:37 AM
> To: 'CHINOOK at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG'
> Subject: RE: Mixed blood, etc.
>
> [sitkum siwash] or 'half breed' is still used among the Columbia River
> Sahaptins, although it tends to be heard as [shitkum shiwash].
>
> While the origin of this term seems fairly uncontroversial, [siwash]
being
> derived from Fr. 'sauvage', I get the impression that this expression
has
> two underlying uses, i) a neutral reference to peoples (as in nominal
> compounds), and ii) a negative cultural reference to peoples.  Each is
a
> matter of usage and perspective as Dave suggested in his earlier post,
but
> both kinds of meanings exist.
>
> Also, it appears that [tilikum] 'people' was the more common term used
> prior to the 1850's.  Thereafter, [tilikum] and [siwash] were used
> interchangably.  The timing of [siwash]'s introduction in to CJ
sources
> seems to coincide with the height of Indian-White conflict in the
Oregon
> territory, i.e. the Whitman Masscare, etc.
>
> I would be interested in knowing more of the kinds of compounds people
> have heard over the years.  The few that I have heard are [sitkum
Koosho]
> meaning 'seal'.
>
> Wext,
>
> Phil Cash Cash (cayuse/nez perce)
> University of Arizona