Rory's Mysterious Omaha-Ponca Fragment

[Mark-Awakuni Swetland]

Aloha all,

Exactly!
I've always heard the old folks say that those were "half breed names"...
not "English names"... with the implications that while they were not Omaha
clan names, they were still considered an "Omaha" name.

Therefore, my Grandma Elizabeth Saunsoci Stabler's English name was
"Elizabeth". Her Omaha name was "Thizabet"... since patrilineally, she came
through the French Saunsoci side and was not deemed eligible to be named
into an Omaha clan.

Suzini (Suzy)
JiniwiN (Jenny)
Methe (Mary)
are a few others. I need to do a systematic Q and A to find out others.

Since some of the names get handed down through families, they becomes
associated with particular clans...ebthegoN.

I personally promote the notion to any Omaha community member I talk to...
that their half-breed name IS THERE OMAHA NAME... not something less-then
Omaha (i.e., English/waxe). I think is provides an avenue for building
self-esteem for those kids not in clans.

uthixide

----- Original Message -----
From: "Koontz John E" <John.Koontz at colorado.edu>
To: <siouan at lists.colorado.edu>
Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 3:44 PM
Subject: Re: Rory's Mysterious Omaha-Ponca Fragment


> In regard to personal names I have since realized that a number of
French-origin personal names in many cases are naturalized and perceived as
Omaha words.  That is, they are now Omaha words.  This explains, for
example, the assertion that Rosalie is the English version of the native
Omaha name Thuzathi.  I think it also explains Mary Clay (now deceased)
being addressed as Me(e)dhi, with a specifically Omaha pronunciation.  I
thought this was English influence, but now I rather wonder if this wasn't
considered to be her Omaha name, or at least one of her Omaha names.
>