Indian Games and Dances with Native Songs

Harken!   'Twas thus it came to pass:
      In ancient days, a Leader and his men
      Walked this wide earth, man's vast abode
      Roofed by the heavens, where dwell the gods.
      They reached a place the spot no man can tell,
      Faced dangers dread and vanquished them;
      Then, standing as if born anew to life,
      Each warrior threw away the name
      That had been his ere yet these deeds were done.
Harken!   The Leader and his men
      Made there the Vict'ry song, and set the mark
      Ye must o'ertake, if ye would be like them!
Harken!   The Leader and his men
      Turned then toward home. Their Vict'ry song
      Proclaimed them near; the village rose,
      Looked toward the hill, where on the top
      Stood the brave men, singing their song,
      Heralding thus the favor of the gods
      By which they had surpassed all former deeds—
      Made new their claim to be accounted men.
Harken!   And whence, think ye, was borne
      Unto these men courage to dare,
      Strength to endure hardship and war?
      Mark well my words, as I reveal
      How the gods help man's feebleness.
      The Leader of these warriors was a man
      Given to prayer. Oft he went forth
      Seeking a place no one could find.
      There would he stand and lift his voice,
      Fraught with desire that he might be
      Invincible, a bulwark 'gainst all foes
      Threat'ning his tribe, causing them fear.
      Night-time and day this cry sped on,
      Traveling far, seeking to reach—
Harken!   Those places far above,
Harken!   Within the circle vast
      Where sit the gods watching o'er men.
Harken!   This poor man's prayer went on,
      Speeding afar into the blue
      Heavens above, reached there the place—
Harken!   Where dwell the lesser gods,
Harken!   And great Ti-ra'-wa, mightier than all!
Harken!   It was because a god
      Received this prayer, considered it,
      Favored its plea, and passed it on
      To him whose place was next, in that grand ring,
      Who in his turn received the prayer,
          Considered it, and sent it on—
Harken!   Around that circle vast,
Harken!   Where sit the gods above.
Harken!   And thus it was the prayer
      Sent by this man won the consent
      Of all the gods. For each god in his place
      Speaks out his thought, grants or rejects
      Man's suppliant cry, asking for help;
      But none can act until the Council grand
      Comes to accord, thinks as one mind,
      Has but one will all must obey.
Harken!   The Council gave consent;
Harken!   And great Ti-ra'-wa, mightier than all!
Harken!   To make their purpose known,
      Succor and aid freely to give,
      Heralds were called, called by the Winds.
      Then in the West uprose the Clouds
      Heavy and black, ladened with storm.
      Slowly they climbed, dark'ning the skies,
      While close on every side the Thunders marched
      On their dread way, till all were come
      To where the gods in stately council sat
      Waiting for them. Then bade them go
      Back to the earth, carrying aid
      To him whose prayer had reached their circle vast.
      This mandate given, the Thunders turned toward earth,
      Taking their course slantwise the sky.
Harken!   Another followed hard—
      Lightning broke forth out of the cloud,
      Zigzag and dart, cleaving their way
      Slantwise to earth, their goal to reach.
Harken!   For these two were not all
      That hastened to proclaim the god's behest—
      Swift on their wings Swallows in flocks
      Swept in advance, ranging the path,
      Black breasts and Red, Yellow and White,
      Flying about, clearing the way
      For those who bore the message of the gods
      Granting the man courage to dare,
      Strength to endure, power to stand
      Invincible, a bulwark 'gainst all foes.
Harken! 'Twas thus it came to pass:
      The Leader grasped the help sent by the gods;
      Henceforth he walked steadfast and strong,
      Leading his men through dangers drear,
      Knowing that naught could strike at him
      To whom the gods had promised victory.
Attend!   Once more I change his name.
Harken!   Ri-ruts'-ka-tit it was
      We used to call him by, a name he won
      Long days ago, marking an act
      Well done by him, but now passed by.
Harken!   To-day all men shall say—
Harken!   His act has lifted him
      Where all his tribe behold a man
      Clothed with new fame, strong in new strength
      Gained by his deeds, blessed of the gods.
Harken!   Sha-ku'-ru Wa'-ruk-ste shall he be called.

TAKING AN INDIAN NAME IN CAMP

In view of the significance of Indian personal names, and the dignity and reverence which in every instance surrounded the giving or the taking of a name, it hardly seems appropriate that Indian names should be assumed even for a short period without some regard being shown to the customs and thought of the people from whom the names are borrowed. While there should be no travesty of rites such as those that have been here described, rites that have been held sacred upon this continent for untold generations, still it would not be unseemly to hold to the spirit of those rites when we borrow these names during the camp days in which we seek to live close to the nature that the Indian loved so reverently and well.

When it is decided among the members of the camp to take an Indian name, on the day of the ceremony all the camp should assemble early in the morning. When all have gathered, they should move toward a place where the sun can be seen when it rises over the lake, the hilltops or the woods. There all should pause.

The candidate for the name should not wear any head-band. The boy or girl should stand well to the front of the group, all of whom should face the East. The entire company should then join in the following song:

Song No. 1

Skies proclaim a new day! We joyfully meet,
We thankfully greet,
His[A] new name this day shall repeat.

The Leader of the camp must then intone the following:

Hear! O Trees that gird our camp!
Listen, ye Birds that fly through the branches!
Harken, ye rippling waves on Stream and Lake!
Hear me!
Into your midst has come a friend,
He[A] bears a new Name!
Ye shall know him as ——(name)

[Footnote A: The pronoun should be changed according to the sex of the candidate.]

The announcement of the name should be distinctly made so as to be clearly heard by the entire company. The head-band or other camp insignia should now be officially put on the candidate.

All present should then join in singing the following song, clapping their hands as beats to the music as they skip back to breakfast and to the pleasures of the day:

Song No. 2

Homeward we go, calling his[B] name;
New is the name now we proclaim;
No other change in our friend, he[B] is the same!

[Footnote B: Change the pronoun to the proper sex.]

2
Singing we go, way ha way ho!
Dancing also, way ha way ho!
No one more merry than we, way ha way ho!

The second stanza should be repeated and the steps kept in rhythm until the dancers finally disperse.

INDIAN NAMES FOR BOYS

All vowels have the Continental sound

The names here presented, for Boys, for Girls and for Camps, have been chosen out of many because the words are easily pronounced; none of them have any of the peculiar labial, nasal or guttural sounds common in the various Indian languages, which are difficult to represent by the letters of our alphabet and equally difficult for most Americans to pronounce.

1. A-di'-ta	Priest	Omaha.
2. An'-ge-da	From every direction	Omaha.
3. De'-mon-thin	Talks as he walks	Ponca.
4. E-di'-ton	Standing as a sacred object	Omaha.
5. Ga-he'-ge	Chief	Omaha.
6. Gu'-da-hi	"There he goes!" A coyote	Omaha.
7. Ha'-nu-ga-hi	Nettle weed	Ponca.
8. He'-ba-zhu	Little horns	Ponca.
9. He'-ga	Buzzard	Omaha.
10. He'-sha-be	Dark antlers	Omaha.
11. He'-thon-ton	Towering antlers (elk)	Omaha.
12. Ho-ho'	Fish	Omaha.
13. Hon'-ga	Imperial eagle	Osage.
14. Hu'-ton-ton	Roar of thunder	Omaha.
15. I'-ku-ha-be	He who causes fear	Ponca.
16. I-shta'-pe-de	Fire eyes (lightning)	Ponca.
17. Ka-ge'-zhin-ga	Little brother	Omaha.
18. Ka-wa'-ha	Very old name, meaning lost	Omaha.
19. Ka'-wa-sab-be	Black horse	Osage.
20. Ka'-wa-ska	White horse	Osage.
21. Ka'-wa-zi	Yellow horse	Osage.
22. Ke'-ton-ga	Great turtle	Ponca.
23. Ke'-zhin-ga	Little turtle	Ponca.
24. Ki'-ko-ton-ga	Curlew	Omaha.
25. Ki'-mon-hon	Facing the wind	Omaha.
26. Ki'-wa-go	Male buffalo	Pawnee.
27. Ku'-ge	Sound of the drum	Omaha.
28. Ku'-rux	Bear	Pawnee.
29. Ku'-sox	Left hand	Pawnee.
30. Le-sha'-ro	Chief	Pawnee.
31. Mi'-da-in-ga	Playful sun	Osage.
32. Mi'-ka	Raccoon	Ponca.
33. Mi'-ka-si	Coyote	Omaha.
34. Min'-dse	Bow	Osage.
35. Mon-chu'	Bear	Omaha.
36. Mon-chu'-pa	Bear's head	Omaha.
37. Mon-e'-ga-he	Arrow chief	Ponca.
38. Mon-ge'-zi	Yellow breast	Omaha.
39. Mon-ka'-ta	He of the earth	Ponca.
40. Mon'-sa	Arrow shaft	Osage.
41. Mon'-te-ga	New arrows	Osage.
42. Ni-ni'-ba	Pipe	Omaha.
43. Ni'-sho-sho	Swallow	Omaha.
44. Non-ke'-ne	Graceful walker (deer)	Omaha.
45. Non'-nun-ge	Runner	Osage.
46. Non'-pe-wa-the	He who is feared	Omaha.
47. Nu'-da-hun-ga	Captain	Omaha.
48. O'-pa	Elk	Omaha.
49. Pa-he'-ta-pe	Seeking the hills	Omaha.
50. Pa'-na-hoo	Owl	Omaha.
51. Pa'-sun	American eagle	Omaha.
52. Pa-thon'	White-headed eagle	Omaha.
53. Pe'-de-ga-he	Fire chief	Omaha.
54. Pe'-num-ba	Seven	Ponca.
55. Sha-ku'-ru	Sun	Pawnee.
56. Sha-thu'	Sound of the water	Ponca.
57. Shon'-ge	Wolf	Omaha.
58. Shon'-ge-sab-be	Black wolf	Omaha.
59. Shon'-ge-ska	White wolf	Ponca.
60. Shon'-ge-zi	Yellow wolf	Ponca.
61. Shon'-ton-ga	Grey wolf	Ponca.
62. Sho-sho'-ka	Osprey	Omaha.
63. Shu'-ka-bi	Bunch of clouds	Ponca.
64. Ski'-rik	Grey wolf	Pawnee.
65. Ta-de'-ta	To the wind	Omaha.
66. Ta-de'-u-mon-thin	Walking in the wind	Omaha.
67. Te-thon'	White buffalo	Omaha.
68. The'-ha	Soles	Omaha.
69. U'-ba-ni	Digging in the earth (little creatures)	Omaha.
70. U-ga'-e	Spread out (herd of buffalo)	Omaha.
71. Wa-he'-he	Easy to break, fragile	Omaha.
72. Wa-ke'-de	One who shoots	Omaha.
73. Wa-po'-ga	Grey owl	Omaha.
74. Wa-shis'-ka	Shell	Omaha.
75. Wash-kon'-hi	Power of the thunder	Omaha.
76. Wa-sho'-she	Brave	Omaha.
77. Wa-thu'-he	Startles the game	Omaha.
78. Wa-zhin'-ska	Wisdom	Omaha.
79. We'-kush-ton	One who gives feast frequently	Omaha.
80. Wi'-a-go	Feather	Dakota.
81. Zha'-be	Beaver	Omaha.

INDIAN NAMES FOR GIRLS

1. A'-bey	Leaf	Omaha.
2. A'-bey-tu	Green leaf	Omaha.
3. A'-bet-zi	Yellow leaf	Omaha.
4. A'-ka-wi	South wind	Omaha.
5. A-sin'-ka	Youngest daughter	Osage.
6. Chon'-ku-sha	Robin	Dakota.
7. Chon'-wa-pe	Leaf	Dakota.
8. Chon'-wa-pe-ska	Red leaf	Dakota.
9. Chon'-wa-pe-tu	Green leaf	Dakota.
10. Cho-xon'-zhe-da	Willow	Dakota.
11. Da'-a-bi	The visible sun	Omaha.
12. Don'-a-ma	The sun visible to all	Omaha.
13. Ha'-ba-zhu-dse	Red corn	Osage.
14. Ha'-ba-zi	Yellow corn	Osage.
15. Ha'-ba-tu	Blue corn	Osage.
16. Ha'-ba-ska	White corn	Osage.
17. Hon'-ba-he	Dawn	Dakota.
18. I-shta'-sa-pa	Dark eyes	Dakota.
19. I'-ni-a-bi	Home builder	Omaha.
20. Ka-shi'-a-ka	Meadow lark	Omaha.
21. Mi'-a-kon-da	Sacred moon	Omaha.
22. Mi'-gi-na	Returning moon	Omaha.
23. Mi'-mi-te	Standing new moon	Omaha.
24. Mi'-na	Oldest daughter	Osage.
25. Mi'-pe	Good moon	Omaha.
26. Mi'-ta-in	Crescent moon	Ponca.
27. Mi'-the-be	Shadowy moon	Ponca.
28. Mi'-ton-e	New moon	Omaha.
29. Mi'-wa-thon	White moon	Omaha.
30. Ni'-da-wi	Fairy girl	Omaha.
31. Pa'-zi	Yellow head (bird)	Ponca.
32. Pa'-ha-zi	Yellow hair (young animal)	Ponca.
33. Raw-ska'	Anemone	Omaha.
34. Raw-tu'	Violet	Omaha.
35. Raw-zi'	Sunflower	Omaha.
36. Ta'-de-win	Wind maiden	Omaha.
37. Ta'-in	New moon	Ponca.
38. Ta'-in-ge	Coming moon	Ponca.
39. Wa-ha'-ba	Corn	Omaha.
40. Wa-ha'-ba-ska	White corn	Omaha.
41. Wa-ha'-ba-tu	Blue corn	Omaha.
42. Wa-ha'-ba-zi	Yellow corn	Omaha.
43. Wak'-cha	Flower	Dakota.
44. Wak'-cha-zi	Sunflower	Dakota.
45. Wa-shu'-dse	Wild-rose	Omaha.
46. Wa-te'-win	Victory woman	Omaha.
47. Wa-zhin'-ga	Bird	Omaha.
48. Wa-zhin'-ga-tu	Blue bird	Omaha.
49. We'-thon-ki-tha	To come together (as in a society)	Omaha.
50. We'-ton-a	Old name, meaning lost	Omaha.
51. We'-ton-be-the	One who gives hope	Omaha.
52. Wi'-he	Younger sister	Omaha.
53. Wi'-te-ga	New moon	Dakota.
54. Zit-ka'-la	Bird	Dakota.
55. Zit-ka'-la-sha	Red bird	Dakota.
56. Zit-ka'-la-tu	Blue bird	Dakota.
57. Zit-ka'-la-zi	Yellow bird	Dakota.

INDIAN NAMES FOR CAMPS

E'-zhon U-ti	A Camp among the Elms.
Hin'-de-hi U-ti	A Camp among the Lindens.
Ney'-a-ti	A Camp by the Lake.
Tosh'-ka-hi U-ti	A Camp among the Oaks.
Wa-shis'-ka A-ti	A Camp by the Brook.