STARS AS WAKANDAS.

§ 31. That the Omaha and Ponka regarded the stars as Wakandas seems probable from the existence of nikie names and the personal mystery decorations. (See §§ 45, 47, and 52.) There are star names in the Night gens of the Kansa, and they point to the mythical origin of the gens. The Kansa made offerings to the morning star. Among the Osage the traditions of the Tsiɔu Wactaʞe and Bald Eagle people mention several Wakanʇas among the stars. These are as follows: Watse ʇuʞa, a “grandfather;” Watse miⁿʞa, a “grandmother;” Miⁿkak’e peȼŭⁿ[p]a, the Seven Stars (Pleiades?), a “grandfather;” the constellation Ta ȼa[p]ȼiⁿ or the Three Deer, a “grandfather;” the morning star, Miⁿkak’e tañʞa (literally, large star), a “grandfather;” the small star, a “grandfather;” the bowl of the Dipper, called “Wa[p]aha ȼiñkce; the Funeral Bier,” a “grandfather,” and the Female Red Bird, a “grandmother,” the eponym of the Tsiɔu Wactaʞe or “Red Eagle” gens. She, too, was probably a star.[24]

§ 32

Gaⁿ

edádaⁿ

ȼiⁿ´

ctĕwaⁿ

ȼahaⁿ´-naⁿi

ni´aciⁿ´ga

ama´,

[p]ahe´

ʇañga´

ȼiⁿ,

ctĕwaⁿ´.

“Wakan´da

And

what

the
col.
ob.

soever

usually

Indian

the
pl.
sub.

hill

large

the
col.
ob.

soever

Wakanda

bȼu´gaqti

wi´ʞai

ă,”

e´-naⁿi.

“Hau,

┴an´de

niñkĕ´

cĕ,

ʞa´ci

jiñ´ga

e´gaⁿ

a´witaⁿ

te´

ă,”

ai´

all

I ask a
favor of
you (pl.)

they said
usually

Ground

you who

sit

some
time

little

I tread
on you

will

say

ni´kaciⁿ´ga	ama´.	┴ade´ ui´ȼĕ	du´baha	tĕ´	ctĭ	ȼahaⁿ´-naⁿi.	“┴ade´ ui´ȼĕ	du´baha	nañka´cĕ,
Indians	the pl. sub.	Whence the wind is sent hither(?)	in four places	the	too	they usually pray (to)	Whence the wind is sent hither(?)	in four places	ye who are


iⁿwiñ´ʞaⁿi-gă.”	Gaⁿ´	gage´giȼaⁿ´i	ni´aciⁿ´ga	uke´ȼiⁿ	ama´,	Wakan´da	wa´ȼahaⁿi	tĕ´di.
help ye me	and	they speak in that manner to (one)	Indian	ordinary	the pl. sub.	Wakanda	they pray to them	when

“The Indians used to invoke various objects, including the mountains, saying, ‘O, all ye mysterious powers, I ask a favor of you!’ They prayed to the ground, saying, ‘O, you who are the ground! May I tread you a little while longer!’ i.e., ‘May my life on earth be prolonged!’ When one prayed to the four winds, he would say, ‘Ho, ye four winds, help me!’ Thus did speak when they prayed to the Wakandas.”—(George Miller.)