While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
The names of the Sioux bands or villages, are as fanciful as
those given to individuals. Near Fort Snelling, are the "Men-da-wahcan-tons,"
or people of the spirit lakes; the "Wahk-patons," or people of
the leaves; the "Wahk-pa-coo-tahs," or people that shoot at
leaves, and other bands who have names of this kind. Among those
chiefs who have been well-known around Fort Snelling, are:
Wah-ba-shaw
The Leaf
Wah-ke-on-tun-kah
Big Thunder
Wah-coo-ta
Red Wing
Muzza Hotah
Gray Iron
Ma-pe-ah-we-chas-tah
The man in the Cloud
Tah-chun-coo-wash-ta
Good Road
Sha-ce-pee
The Sixth
Wah-soo-we-chasta-ne
Bad Hail
Ish-ta-hum-bah
Sleepy Eyes
These fanciful names are given to
them from some peculiarity in appearance or conduct; or
sometimes from an occurrence that took place at the time that
they usually receive the name that is ascribed to them for life.
There is a Sioux living in the neighborhood of Fort Snelling,
called "The man that walks with the women." It is not customary
for the Indian to show much consideration for the fair sex, and
this young man, exhibiting some symptoms of gallantry unusual
among them, received the above name.
The Sioux have ten names for their children, given
according to the order of their birth.
The oldest son is called
Chaske
second
Haparm
third
Ha-pe-dah
fourth
Chatun
fifth
Harka
The oldest daughter is called
Wenonah
second
Harpen
third
Harpstenah
fourth
Waska
fifth
We-barka
These names they retain until
another is given by their relations or friends.
The Dahcotahs say that meteors are men or women flying
through the air; that they fall to pieces as they go along,
finally falling to the earth. They call them "Wah-ken-den-da,"
or the mysterious passing fire. They have a tradition of a
meteor which, they say, was passing over a hill where there was
an Indian asleep. The meteor took the Indian on his back, and
continued his route till it came to a pond where there were many
ducks. The ducks seeing the meteor, commenced a general
quacking, which so alarmed him that he turned off and went
around the pond, and was about to pass over an Indian village.
Here he was again frightened by a young warrior, who was playing
on the flute. Being afraid of music, he passed around the
village, and soon after falling to the earth, released his
burden. The Indian then asked the meteor to give him his head
strap, which he refused. The Indian offered him a feather of
honor for it, and was again refused. The Sioux, determined to
gain his point, told the meteor if he would give him the strap,
he would kill a big enemy for him. No reply from the meteor. The
Indian then offered to kill a wigwam full of enemies the meteor
still mute. The last offer was six wigwams full of dead enemies
for the so much coveted strap. The meteor was finally bribed,
gave up the head-strap, and the Sioux went home with the great
glory of having outwitted a meteor; for, as they met no more,
the debt was never paid.
The language of the Sioux would, with proper
facilities, be easily acquired. It is said, in many respects, to
resemble the ancient Greek. Even after having acquired
considerable knowledge of the language by study, it is necessary
to live among the people in order to understand their fanciful
mode of speaking.
One of the chiefs, "Sleepy Eyes," visited a missionary
not many weeks since, and on being asked why he did not come at
the time appointed, replied, "How could I come when I have no
moccasins," meaning that he had no horse. The horse had recently
been killed by a man who owed him a grudge; and his way of
alluding to the loss was the moccasins. On another occasion,
this same chief, having done what he considered a favor for the
missionaries, at Traverse des Sioux , told them that his coat
was worn out, and that he had neither cloth nor thread to mend
it; the fact was, that he had no coat at all, no cloth nor
thread; his brawny neck and arms were entirely bare, and this
was his way of begging for a new coat.
In Indian warfare, the victor takes the scalp of his enemy. If
he have time, he takes the entire scalp, including the ears; but
if hurried, a smaller scalp-piece is taken. As an inducement to
be foremost in battle, the first four that touch the dead body
of an enemy, share the honors that are paid to the one who slew
the foe and took the scalp. But the victors in Indian fight
frequently suffer in this way; a wounded savage feigns death,
and, as some warrior approaches to take his scalp, he will
suddenly rise, discharge his gun, and fight desperately with the
tomahawk until killed. Deeds of valor performed by Indians are
as often done from desperation as from any natural bravery. They
are educated to warfare, but often show great disinclination to
fight; strategy goes farther with them than manly courage does.
At Fort Snelling, the Sioux have more than once crouched under
the walls of the fort for protection, and on one occasion a
chief, who came in to give information of the approach of some
Chippeways trembled so as to shake the ornaments about his
dress.
The books presented are for
their historical value only and are not the
opinions of the Webmasters of the site.
Dahcotah, Or Life and Legends of the
Sioux around Ft. Snelling
