Names of the Gentes and Subgentes

The following are the names of the gentes and subgentes of the two great tribal divisions, in their fixed, sequential order, as given by Shoⁿ´-toⁿ-ça-be, Black-dog, to Miss Alice C. Fletcher, in 1896. The name Sho´-ḳa is the title of a subgens from which the principal gens chooses a man or woman to act as official messenger at the performance of a tribal rite. The official messenger also bears the title.

FIXED ORDER OF THE GENTES AND SUBGENTES
Gentes of the Ho^N´-ga Great Division
WA-ZHA´-ZHE SUBDIVISION

1. Wa-zha´-zhe-çka; White Wa-zha´-zhe. Refers to the life symbol of the gens, the fresh water mussel, with its shell. The Sun also is a life symbol of this gens.

Iⁿ-gthoⁿ´-ga Ni Moⁿ-tse; Puma-in-the-Water. Sho´-ḳa.

2. Ḳe´-ḳ’iⁿ; Carrier-of-the-Turtle.

Ba´-ḳ’a Zho-i-ga-the; Cotton-tree People. Sho´-ḳa.

3. Mi-ḳe´-the-stse-dse; Cat-tail (Typha latifolia).

Ka´-xe-wa-hu-ça; Youngest brother. Sho´-ḳa.

4. Wa´-ṭse-ṭsi; Star-that-came-to-Earth.

Xu-tha´ P̣a-çoⁿ Zho-i-ga-the; Bald Eagle People. Sho´-ḳa.

5. O-çu´-ga-xe; They-who-make-the-way-Clear.

Moⁿ-sho-dse-moⁿ-iⁿ; Travelers-in-the-Mist. Sho´-ḳa.

6. Ṭa-tha´-xiⁿ; Deer’s-Lungs, or Ṭa-çiⁿ´-dse-çka; White-tailed-Deer.

Wa-dsu´-ṭa-zhiⁿ-ga; Small-Animals. Sho´-ḳa.

7. Ho´ I-ni-ḳa-shi-ga; Fish-People.

E-noⁿ´ Miⁿ-dse-ṭoⁿ; Sole-owner-of-the-Bow. Refers to the office of the gens of making the ceremonial bow and arrows that symbolize night and day.

8. Hoⁿ´-ga U-ṭa-noⁿ-dsi; The-Isolated-Hoⁿ´-ga. The Earth.

Moⁿ-hiⁿ-çi; Flint-Arrow-Point. Sho´-ḳa.

HO^N´-GA SUBDIVISION

1. Wa-ça´-be-ṭoⁿ; Owners-of-the-Black-Bear.

Wa-ça´-be-çka; The-White-Bear. Sho´-ḳa.

2. Iⁿ-gthoⁿ´-ga; Puma.

Hiⁿ-wa´-xa-ga; Thorny-hair, Porcupine. Sho´-ḳa.

3. O´-poⁿ; Elk.

Ṭa He Sha-be; Dark-horned Deer. Sho´-ḳa.

4. Moⁿ´-iⁿ-ḳa-ga-xe; Maker-of-the-Earth.

5. Hoⁿ-ga Gthe-zhe; The-Mottled-Sacred-One (the immature golden eagle).

6. Xu-tha; Eagle (the adult golden eagle).

7. Hoⁿ´-ga Zhiⁿ-ga; The Little-Sacred-One.

I´-ba-ṭse Ṭa-dse; The-Gathering-of-the-Winds. Sho´-ḳa.

Gentes of the Ṭsi´-zhu Great Division

1. Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-noⁿ; Elder Ṭsi-zhu, or Wa-ḳoⁿ´-da Noⁿ-pa-bi; The-God-Who-is-Feared-by-All. Refers to the life symbol of the gens, the Sun.

Wa-ba´-xi; The-Awakeners. Refers to the office of this subgens of urging the messengers to prompt action. Sho´-ḳa.

2. Çiⁿ´-dse A-gthe; Wearers-of-Symbolic-Locks.

Shoⁿ´-ge Zho-i-ga-the; Dog-People. Refers to the life symbol of this subgens, the dog-star. The name Shoⁿ´-ge includes coyotes, gray wolves, and all other lands of dogs. Sho´-ḳa.

3. P̣e´-ṭoⁿ Ṭoⁿ-ga Zho-i-ga-the; Great-Crane-People.

(Not sub-gens) Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge; The-Gentle-Ṭsi-zhu. Refers to the office of the gens of Peace-maker.

4. Ṭse-do´-ga Iⁿ-dse; Buffalo-Bull-Face-People. Closely related to the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-noⁿ.

Ṭse-a´-ḳoⁿ; corruption of Ṭse-thoⁿ-ka; Buffalo-back. Sho´-ḳa.

5. Mi-ḳ’iⁿ´ Wa-noⁿ; Elder Carriers-of-the-Sun-and-Moon. Refers to the life symbols of the gens, all the heavenly bodies.

6. Hoⁿ´ Zho-i-ga-the; Night-People. Refers to the life symbol of the gens, the Night.

Ṭa-p̣a´ Zho-i-ga-the; Deer-head or Pleiades People. Sho´-ḳa.

7. Ṭsi´-zhu U-thu-ha-ge; The-Last-Ṭsi´-zhu, or the last in the sequential order of the Ṭsi´-zhu gentes.

The Ṭsi´ Ha-shi (Those-Who-Were-Last-to-Come)

A. Ni´-ḳa Wa-ḳoⁿ-da-gi; Men of Mystery, or Thunder People.

Xoⁿ´-dse Wa-ṭse. Meaning uncertain; it is said that it probably refers to the office of keepers of all the Wa-ṭse, or war honors. Sho´-ḳa.

B. Tho´-xe; Buffalo-bull (archaic name for the buffalo bull). These two gentes are joint keepers of the Hawk War-symbols.

Wa´-ṭse-ṭsi or P̣o⁷´-ḳa Wa-shta-ge

Names ceremonially bestowed on each of the first three sons and on each of the first three daughters born to a Wa´-ṭse-ṭsi man and his wife. As given by Noⁿ´-xe-çka-zhi, a member of the gens:

BOYS

1. Iⁿ-gthoⁿ´ name, Wa-çi´-çta. Meaning uncertain.

2. Kshoⁿ´-ga name, Wa´-ṭse-moⁿ-iⁿ, Star-that-travels.

3. Ka´-zhiⁿ-ga name, Ni-ga´-ṭo-xe, Water-splasher.

GIRLS

1. Mi´-na name, Hoⁿ-be´-do-ḳa, Wet-moccasins.

2. Wi´-he name, Wa-ṭoⁿ-i-ça-e, meaning uncertain, or Mi´-ga-shoⁿ-e, Sun-that-travels.

3. A-çiⁿ´-ga name, Gia´-çoⁿ-ba, meaning uncertain.

OTHER NAMES

Male

Ga-çka´, meaning uncertain. Son of Xu-tha´-da-wiⁿ, Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge and P̣oⁿ´-ḳa-zhiⁿ-ga, P̣oⁿ-ḳa Wa-shta-ge.

Ga-çka, meaning uncertain. Son of Thoⁿ´-dse-ṭoⁿ-ga, Wa´-ṭse-ṭsi, and Xu-tha´-da-wiⁿ, Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge.

Gi-thi-ḳoⁿ-bi, One-for-whom-they-make-way. (In the Tha´-ṭa-da gens of the Omaha tribe.) Husband of Moⁿ´-çi-ṭse-xi, Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge.

Gtha-i-gthoⁿ-thiⁿ-ge, meaning uncertain. Son of Thoⁿ´-dse-ṭoⁿ-ga, Wa´-ṭse-ṭsi and Xu-tha´-da-wiⁿ, Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge.

Gthe-doⁿ´-wa-ḳoⁿ-tha, Attacking-hawk. (Tho´-xe name.) Refers to the aggressive character of the bird. Son of Ṭsi´-zhu-a-ḳi-p̣a and Hoⁿ-be´-do-ḳa, Ṭa´ I-ni-ka-shi-ga.

Hi´-tho-ḳa-thiⁿ, Bare-legs. (In the Tha´-ṭa-da gens of the Omaha.) Also Ḳu-zhi´-wa-ṭse, Strikes-in-a-far-off-country. (In the Iⁿ-shta´-çon-da gens of the Omaha.)

Hi´-tho-ḳa-thiⁿ or Long-bow.

Ḳa-çi´, meaning uncertain.

Ḳo´-zhi-çi-gthe, Tracks-far-away. Husband of Xu-tha´-da-wiⁿ, Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge.

Kshoⁿ´-ga. Not name but a special kinship term for the second born son. Should have been named A´-be-zhiⁿ-ga, Slender-leaf, of the cat-tail.

Ḳu´-zhi-çi-gthe. Husband of Zhoⁿ´-btha-çka-wiⁿ of the Hoⁿ´-ga U-ṭa-noⁿ-dsi gens.

Moⁿ-iⁿ´-ḳa-moⁿ-iⁿ, Walks-on-the-earth. Husband of Xu-tha´-da-wiⁿ of the Çiⁿ´-dse-a-gthe gens.

Moⁿ-ḳoⁿ´-thiⁿ, Possessor-of-medicine. (Not a Ni´-ḳi-e name.)

Ni´-ḳa-çtu-e, Gathering-of-men. Son of Thoⁿ´-dse-ṭoⁿ-ga and Xu-tha-da-wiⁿ.

Ni´-ḳa-wa-zhiⁿ-ṭoⁿ-ga, Man-of-great-courage. Refers to the warlike character of this gens. Husband of Wa-xthe´-thoⁿ-ba of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-noⁿ gens.

P̣oⁿ´-ḳa-wa-da-iⁿ-ga, Playful-P̣oⁿ-ḳa. Husband of Wa-xthe´-thoⁿ-ba of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-noⁿ gens.

Thoⁿ´-dse-ṭoⁿ-ga, Big-heart. Also Wa-zhiⁿ´-wa-xa, Greatest-in-courage. Refers to the warlike character of this gens. Husband of Xu´-tha-da-wiⁿ of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens.

Ṭsi´-zhu-a-ḳi-p̣a, He-who-met-the-Ṭsi´-zhu. Refers to the first meeting of the Ṭsi´-zhu and the Wa-zha´-zhe gentes. Husband of Hoⁿ-be´-do-ḳa of the Ṭa´ I-ni-ḳa-shi-ga gens.

Ṭsi´-zhu-a-ḳi-p̣a (same as above). Husband of Wa-xthe´-thoⁿ-ba of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-noⁿ gens.

U-dse´-ṭa-wa-xa, Winner-of-the-race-against-the-U-dse-ṭa. (Not a Ni´-ḳi-e name.) Refers to a race between two bands in which a member of the Wa´-ṭse-ṭsi gens won.

U-thu´-ga-e, meaning uncertain. (Not Ni´-ḳi-e.)

Wa-çi´-çta, meaning uncertain. Son of P̣oⁿ´-ḳa-wa-da-iⁿ-ga and Wa-xthe´-thoⁿ-ha, Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-noⁿ gens.

Wa´-çi-çta, Son of Wa-shka´-dse and Noⁿ-mi-tse-xi, Wa-ça´-be gens.

Wa-shka´-dse, meaning uncertain. Husband of Noⁿ´-mi-ṭse-xi of the Wa-ça´-be gens.

Wa-stse´-e-doⁿ, Good-doctor. (Wa-xthi´-zhi thinks that the boy’s right name is Wa´-ṭse-moⁿ-iⁿ.) Son of P̣oⁿ´-ka-wa-da-iⁿ-ga and Wa-xthe´-thoⁿ-ba, Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-noⁿ gens.

Wa´-ṭse-a-xe, Cries-for-a-star. Son of U-thu´-ga-e.

Wa´-ṭse-ga-hi-ge, Star-chief. Refers to the selection of the chief of the Hoⁿ´-ga Great Division, from the Wa´-ṭse-ṭsi gens.

Wa´-ṭse-moⁿ-iⁿ, The-traveling-star. Husband of Wa´-ḳoⁿ-ça-moⁿ-iⁿ of the Ṭa´ I-ni-ḳa-shi-ga gens.

Wa´-ṭse-moⁿ-iⁿ. Son of Wa-k’o´-ga-hi-ge of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens.

Wa´-ṭse-moⁿ-iⁿ. Son of Ḳo´-zhi-çi-gthe and Xu-tha´-da-wiⁿ, Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens.

Wa´-ṭse-moⁿ-iⁿ. Son of Hi´-tho-ḳa-thiⁿ. (Long-bow.)

Wa-ṭse-ṭoⁿ-ga, Big-star.

Wa-zhiⁿ´-wa-xa, Greatest-in-courage. Refers to the warlike character of the Wa-zha´-zhe subdivision. Husband of Moⁿ-zhoⁿ´-dsi-i-ṭa of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens.

Wa-zhiⁿ´-wa-xa. Son of Moⁿ-ḳoⁿ´-a-thiⁿ.

Xu-tha´-xtsi, Real-eagle. (In the Tha´-ṭa-da gens of the Omaha tribe.) Husband of Wa-ḳ’o´-ga-hi-ge of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens.

Female

Çoⁿ-çi´-gthe, Footprints-in-the-woods. Refers to the deer. Wife of Hoⁿ´-ba-hiu of the Ṭa´ I-ni-ḳa-shi-ga gens.

Gia´-çoⁿ-ba, meaning uncertain. Wife of U-hoⁿ´-ge-u-zhoⁿ of the Çiⁿ´-dse-a-gthe gens.

Gia´-çoⁿ-ba. Wife of Ḳa´-wa-çi of the I´-ba-ṭse gens.

Gia-çoⁿ-ba. Daughter of Ṭsi´-zhu-a-ḳi-p̣a and Wa-xthe´-thoⁿ-ba of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-noⁿ gens.

Gia-çoⁿ-ba. Mother of Mi´-hoⁿ-ga, Xu-tha´-wa-ḳoⁿ-da and Sha´-ge-wa-biⁿ of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-noⁿ gens.

Gia´-çoⁿ-ba. Daughter of Ḳo´-zhi-çi-gthe and Xu-tha´-da-wiⁿ of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens.

Gia´-çoⁿ-ba. Daughter of Wa-shka´-dse and Noⁿ´-mi-ṭse-xi.

Gia´-çoⁿ-ba. Wife of Tho-xe-zhiⁿ-ga of the Tho´-xe gens.

Hoⁿ-be´-do-ka, Wet-moccasins. Daughter of Wa-zhiⁿ´-wa-xa and Moⁿ-zhoⁿ´-dsiⁿ-i-ta of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens.

Hoⁿ-be´-do-ka. Daughter of U-thu´-ga-e.

Hoⁿ-be´-do-ka. Daughter of Ṭsi´-zhu-a-ḳi-p̣a and Wa-xthe´-thoⁿ-be, of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-noⁿ gens.

Hoⁿ´-be-do-ka. Mother of Xu-tha´-wa-ḳoⁿ-da, Gia´-çoⁿ-ba and Xu-tha´-da-wiⁿ of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-noⁿ gens.

Hoⁿ-be´-do-ka. Daughter of Moⁿ-koⁿ´-a-thiⁿ.

Hoⁿ-be´-do-ka. Wife of Moⁿ-zhoⁿ-a´-ḳi-da of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens.

Hoⁿ-be´-do-ka. Wife of Ha-xiⁿ-u´-mi-zhe of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens.

Hoⁿ-be´-do-ka. Daughter of Wa´-ṭse-a-xe and Pa´-moⁿ-shi-wa-gthoⁿ of the O´-poⁿ gens.

Hoⁿ-be´-do-ka. Daughter of Ḳo´-zhi-çi-gthe and Xu-tha´-da-wiⁿ of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens.

Hoⁿ-be´-do-ka. Daughter of Wa-shka´-dse and Noⁿ´-mi-ṭse-xi of the Wa´-ça´-be gens.

Mi´-ga-shoⁿ-iⁿ, Sun-that-travels. (In the Tha´-ṭa-da gens of the Omaha tribe.) Daughter of P̣oⁿ´-ḳa-wa-da-iⁿ-ga and Wa-xthe´-thoⁿ-ba of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-noⁿ gens.

Mi´-ga-shoⁿ-iⁿ. Wife of Moⁿ´-zhi´-çka-ḳ’iⁿ-ga-xthi of the Wa-ça´-be gens.

Mi´-ga-shoⁿ-iⁿ. Wife of Gthe-doⁿ´-çka of the Ni´-ḳa-wa-ḳoⁿ-da-gi gens.

Mi´-tha-gthiⁿ, Good-sun. Daughter of Moⁿ-iⁿ´-ḳa-moⁿ-iⁿ and Xu-tha´-da-wiⁿ of the Çiⁿ´-dse-a-gthe gens.

P̣oⁿ´-ḳa-wiⁿ, P̣oⁿ´-ḳa-woman. (This woman held the office of Wa-dse´-pa-iⁿ, Official Crier.)

Wa´-ḳoⁿ-ça-moⁿ-iⁿ, meaning uncertain. Daughter of U-thu´-ga-e.

Wa´-ḳoⁿ-ça-moⁿ-iⁿ. Mother of Tho´-ṭa-a-ça, Xo´-ṭa-wiⁿ and Xoⁿ´-dse-moⁿ-iⁿ of the Ni´-ḳa-wa-ḳoⁿ-da-gi gens.

Wa´-ḳoⁿ-ça-moⁿ-iⁿ. Wife of Ṭse´-çe-ṭoⁿ-ga of the Tho´-xe gens.

Wa´-ḳoⁿ-ça-moⁿ-iⁿ. Daughter of Wa-ḳ’o´-ga-hi-ge of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens.

Wa´-ḳoⁿ-ça-moⁿ-iⁿ. Wife of Mi´-she-tsi-e of the Hoⁿ´-ga gens.

Wa´-ḳoⁿ-ça-moⁿ-iⁿ. Wife of Wa-ni´-e-toⁿ of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens.

Wa´-ḳoⁿ-ça-moⁿ-iⁿ. Daughter of Wa´-ṭse-a-xe and Pa´-moⁿ-shi-wa-gthoⁿ.

Wa´-ḳoⁿ-ça-moⁿ-iⁿ. Daughter of Ḳo´-zhi-çi-gthe and Xu-tha´-da-wiⁿ.

Wa´-ḳoⁿ-ça-moⁿ-iⁿ. Daughter of Thoⁿ´-dse-ṭoⁿ-ga and Xu-tha´-da-wiⁿ.

Wa´-ḳoⁿ-ça-moⁿ-iⁿ. Daughter of Wa-shka´-dse and Noⁿ´-mi-ṭse-xi.

Wa-ṭoⁿ´-i-ça-e, meaning uncertain. Wife of Moⁿ´-ga-xe of the Iⁿ-gthoⁿ´-ga gens.

Wa-ṭoⁿ´-i-ça-e. Wife of O-pa´-sho-e of the Ṭsi´-zhu Wa-shta-ge gens.

Wa-ṭoⁿ´-i-ça-e. Wife of I´-ṭoⁿ-moⁿ-iⁿ of the Mi-ḳ’iⁿ´ gens.

Wa-ṭoⁿ´-i-ça-e. Daughter of P̣oⁿ´-ḳa-wa-da-iⁿ-ga and Wa-xthe´-ṭhoⁿ-ba.

Wa-ṭoⁿ´-i-ça-e. Wife of Noⁿ´-p̣o-e of the Hoⁿ´-ga U-ṭa-noⁿ-dsi gens.

Wa-ṭoⁿ´-i-ça-e. Daughter of Wa´-ṭse-ga-hi-ge.

Wa-ṭoⁿ´-i-ça-e. Wife of Ḳa´-wa-xo-dse of the I´-ba-ṭse gens.

Wa-ṭoⁿ´-i-ça-e. Daughter of Wa-shka´-dse and Noⁿ´-mi-ṭse-xi.

Wi´-he. Not name but a special kinship term for the second daughter in a family. Daughter of Wa´-ṭse-ga-hi-ge.

Xu-tha´-da-wiⁿ. Good-eagle-woman. Daughter of Ṭsi´-zhu-a-ḳi-pa and Hoⁿ´-be-do-ḳa of the Ṭa´ I-ni-ḳa-shi-ga gens.