The Natural World of the Gros Ventre/White Clay Indians

The Natural World of the Gros Ventre/White Clay Indians

Names for natural objects, and associated cultural information

Compiled by Andrew Cowell, based on the work of Allan Taylor, Alfred Kroeber, J. Sifton, Regina Flannery, John Cooper, and their Gros Ventre/White Clay collaborators.

Copyright: Center for the Study of Indigenous Languages of the West (CSILW),

University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

First Edition: May, 2005

Second Edition: July, 2005
Third Edition: April, 2013

NOTE: Permission is hereby granted for this document to be reproduced in any form by the Gros Ventre/White Clay people and institutions, for personal or educational use. All other reproduction is restricted by copyright law.

Introduction

This is a compilation of information from existing sources. Other than the addition of the word for ‘golden eagle’ provided by Terry Brockie, no new research has gone into this work. The sources from which material is taken are identified as follows:

no source = Allan TaylorɁs Gros Ventre dictionary

F = The Gros Ventre Indians of Montana, by Regina Flannery and John Cooper

K = Ethnography of the Gros Ventre, by Alfred Kroeber

# = Gros Ventre Myths and Tales, by Alfred Kroeber (# refers to the story #)

S = Gros Ventre dictionary of Father Sifton

2560b = MSS 2560b, compiled by Alfred Kroeber, held at National Anthropological

Archives, Smithsonian Institution. Multiple Notebooks (NB)

The compiler has provided technical/scientific identifications of many species, based primarily on knowledge of Arapaho and Cheyenne plant and animal names and uses. He has also provided modern retranscriptions of terms transcribed by Kroeber, Flannery, Cooper, and Sifton, and he has provided Gros Ventre forms where only English translations are given in the original sources.

BIRDS

GREBE FAMILY

grebe, pie-billed téiiby(i)h = ‘riding on someone’s back duck’ (possibly coot?)

In the creation story, there is a large ‘loon’ (baas-teihipyh) and a small ‘loon’. Both dive

for earth, but neither succeeds in bringing any up (Kroeber Myth #2). See also Kroeber Story #28. In Kroeber MSS 2560b, NB 49, he adds that the bird referred to above “can’t fly”. This

suggests a coot, which is virtually never seen to fly, though the same could be said of the

pie-billed grebe.

grebe, western??? baas-teiiby(i)h = large grebe (see grebe, pie-billed) (common loon?)

In the creation story, there is a large ‘loon’ (baas-teihipyh) and a small ‘loon’. Both dive

for earth, but neither succeeds in bringing any up (Kroeber Myth #2). See also Kroeber Story #28. In Kroeber MAA 2560b, he adds that the bird is “spotted black and white” with a “long bill,” and that the small ones are black.

Note: both loons, grebes, and coots sometimes carry their young on their backs.

WATERFOWL FAMILY

Swan nook-óɁeeih = white-goose;

nóóc-itétoh = white-heron/egret/crane

goose néɁih

gosling néɁiitooɁ (‘young goose’)

Goose eggs were eaten (F59)

duck cɁíisikoh

duckling ciɁíisikóouh (‘little duck’)

Kroeber reports that duck eggs were a favorite food (K149); see F59 also.

The Duck was one of four divers who tried to bring up earth at the time of creation.

He did not succeed. (#1)

Gros Ventre shares with Arapaho the story of the dancing ducks. (#14)

GULL AND TERN FAMILY

gull nowhú-niiɁihíh = fish-bird

LONG-LEGGED WADER FAMILY

bittern naatóóhow-úúsíit-aakɁi = looks at-sun-it

This name comes from the fact that bitterns are masters of camouflage and conceal-

ment. When standing among cattails and reeds, they point their head straight up,

and with their long neck they look just like another cattail.

CRANE FAMILY

crane, esp. sandhill Ɂitétoouh (also used for goose)

Ɂitéth

crane, whooping nóóc-téíth = white-crane/heron (also used for swans)

SHOREBIRD FAMILY

curlew ɁikóɁuɁúhuh

Eggs were eaten (F59). Name also given in Kroeber MSS 2560b, NB49, p 19verso.

killdeer ciɁíícikhíh

This name is probably an imitation of the birdɁs call.

GAMEBIRD FAMILY

turkey báas-kénaaɁ = big-grouse

GROUSE FAMILY

grouse kénaaɁ (prairie chicken or sage grouse)

The prairie chicken is central to Gros Ventre pre-Sun Dance preparations (K231)

The Gros Ventre version of White Man and the dancing ducks includes ‘Prairie

Chickens’ as well (#14).

ruffed(?) grouse kóokouɁúhɁuh

sharp-tailed grouse tosí-iiinotéyeih = sharp-tail feathers (also used for sage

grouse hen?)

Eggs of grouse and prairie chicken were eaten (F59)

RAPTOR FAMILY

hawk, swainson’s? wotééínáátaaɁ (means ‘has worn-out/brown wings’?)

Kr 2560b defines this term as ‘chicken hawk.’

eagle, bald nook-oti-yéíhih = white-rump-one

hatiϴeeihih (Kr 2560b, NB 42)

eaglet nóóotiyéíhiitóóɁ (Ɂyoung eagleɁ)

In one story, the Bald Eagle helps kill a mythological monster known as

“Cut Off Head” (#3). In another, he rescues a woman from danger and

takes her back to her people (#25).

eagle, golden cíícííkóto-yéíhih = trilling-one

Eagles were shot from blinds set up where a previous camp was being broken (K149).

Kr 2560b NB 42 defines this as a “spotted tail eagle.”

VULTURE FAMILY

vulture Ɂatitebiih (spelling? – from E.S. Curtis)

FALCON FAMILY

falcon Ɂááyéeih

ɁááyaaɁ

Kr 2560b, NB 42 defines this word as a gray, swift hawk, smaller than a chicken hawk.

kestrel cicíihééíhih

ciiciih (Kr 2560b, NB 42)

The name for kestrel is also given in Kroeber MSS 2560a, NB 49, p. 19verso, as ciiciihihɁoh (pl.), defined as ‘a small bird.’

OWL FAMILY

owl byóótaaɁ

Owls were often considered to be spirits or ghosts.

snowy owl nooci-byootaaɁ (Kr 2560b, NB 42)

KINGFISHER FAMILY

kingfisher no name known

PIGEON AND DOVE FAMILY

pigeon/dove níitééíhɁaaɁ

GOATSUCKER FAMILY

nighthawk cíítoouh, cííyóúúh

The sound of the kingfisher diving was likened to the sound of farting. A traditional

saying is: cíítoouh kyááákich! ɁítɁa Ɂóótonnistonéítah ɁínɁ báatah noh niikyóhoɁ. =

‘Nighthawk farted! I’ll make you a bow and arrows.’ (Taylor II.55)

The Gros Ventre share the story of the Nighthawk breaking the rock with

other tribes (#10).

HUMMINGBIRD FAMILY

hummingbird no name known

WOODPECKER FAMILY

woodpecker (in genɁl?) kóókóotaaɁ

flicker kóókóotaaɁ

red-headed woodpecker baaɁ-áɁaa-kɁi = red-head-it

baɁéíhiih = ‘red-headed one’

LARK FAMILY

horned lark no name known

SWALLOW FAMILY

swallow níítotéyeeih = double tail feather (especially barn swallow)

cliff swallow bíitéi-wósish = ghost-??

bíitéí-bíitosɁi = ghost-??

Ɂitéi-wós-híh = womanly-???-DIM

An Arapaho explained that the cliff swallow is connected to ghosts or spirits because of the strange sound it makes once it returns to its nest in the evening. The second name for cliff swallow is given in Kroeber MSS 2560b, NB 49, p. 19verso, as byiitei-byiiϴoϴo-hoh (pl.).

CROW FAMILY

crow ɁóouɁ [Curtis 1924, 170 also gives at-ti]

Crows were trapped in sinew snares (K149)

In one version of the creation story, there are no birds and animals except the crow.

The crow must fly around endlessly over the waters. Eventually, it becomes tired,

and asks the Pipe Man to create some earth for it to rest on. This initiates the creation.

raven ɁóouɁ

Ɂótéeih [see ‘crow’ regarding Curtis 1924]

jay no name known

magpie wouɁúhɁeeih

Magpies were trapped in sinew snares (K149)

OLD WORLD THRUSHES?

starling nhɁáanóouh (same as blackbird, cowbird)

CHICKADEE AND TITMOUSE FAMILY

chickadee nii-bíííkiy-ééíh = habitual-spring-one (‘he brings

springtime’)

nii-bíííkyééíhihi-kɁi = habitual-little spring-one

(‘he’s the little bringer of springtime’)

The song signals the arrival of spring for the Arapaho, and the Gros Ventre word

seems to indicate the same thing. In Kroeber 2560a, NB 49, p. 19verso, the name is given

as byiikiy-eeihihɁoh (pl.)

Ɂíckiikiikhíh (apparently onomatopoetic for the call)

bííbineihíh = ‘small berry eater’

bííbineihihí-kɁi = ‘he is a small berry eater’

THRUSH FAMILY

robin béɁ-isicééí-(hiih) = red-breast-one

bluebird kináatáán-iiɁíhiih = blue-bird

SPARROW FAMILY

sparrow no name known

c/siiɁhihɁoh (Kr 2560b, NB 42) ‘snowbird, sparrow’

‘winterbird/snowbird’ Ɂísiih (probably junco)

BLACKBIRD FAMILY

red-winged w blackbird nííyos-nihɁáanoouh = cattail-blackbird

meadowlark Ɂíbikííwoochíh

Meadowlarks were believed to talk dirty, and to mock people. One non-dirty call is:

cííyóóuúh náhtonáhɁ = ‘nighthawk, you are tricky/smart’ (Taylor II.55)

The eggs were hard-boiled and fed to children who were slow to learn to talk

(F59, 143) and when a person is talkative, people say ‘their mother must

have fed them meadowlark eggs’

yellow-headed h blackbird no name known

blackbird nhɁáanóouh

brown-headed cowbird nhɁáanóouh

grackle nhɁáanóouh

FINCH FAMILY

‘winterbird/snowbird’ Ɂísiih

(This is either a Snow Bunting or Junco)

MAMMALS

INSECTIVORES

mole nóou-ciitóóc-ééíhih = outside-blow (dirt)-it (=Arapaho

gopher)

woosí-ciitóóc-ééíhih = dirt-blow-it

kiikííbyɁ-ééíhih

BATS

bat wɁatáán-ntɁín-eih = black-wing-one

The bite of bats is thought to be poisonous (K281)

RABBITS

rabbit nooch

cottontail nowóot-óóch = lefthanded-rabbit

jackrabbit báat-óóch = big-rabbit (wh-tl jackr)

nóók-óóch = white-rabbit (wh-tl jackr)

Rabbits eaten when necessary, but normally considered trapping fare for children (F59)

RODENTS

chipmunk no name known

marmot no name known

ground sq totooyoɁeeih = ‘striped one?’

Kr 2560b says this word can be used for all kinds of squirrels.

squirrel same as ground squirrel?

gopher Ɂóniiih

gopher hole nóóúciitóóto(o)Ɂ = ‘product of blowing out’ (i.e. the dirt

blown out of the ground)

Gophers [prairie dogs?] were trapped by means of horsehair hoops (K149)

Eaten when necessary, but normally considered trapping fare for children (F59)

prairie dog báat-óniiih = big-gopher

pr. dog town baatónííí-taanɁo = prairie dog-village

Eaten when necessary, but normally considered trapping fare for children (F59)

beaver ɁábisɁ

beaver dam ɁábisɁ ɁókoouyóoɁ

Most favored meat after hooved animals (F59); skin used for caps, mittens

and breechclouts in winter (F62) Castor put into paint bags so that

daily paint materials would smell sweet (F63)

mouse Ɂoocíih

baby ɁoocíihiitooɁ (‘young mouse’)

rat báat-óócíih = big-mouse

woodrat báat-óócíih = big-mouse

muskrat Ɂíitósih

Bags sometimes made from the pelt (F62). Used as trimming (F62)

porcupine Ɂóouh

porc. quill Ɂóóninoh (pl)

Porcupine quills were of central to decorative uses; also eaten (F59). Tails used

for combs (F63)

CARNIVORES

coyote kóóɁohwúh

rutting male nó(ó)nisi-kóóɁohwúh = crazy-coyote

nóónitehíínotáasiɁ = ‘he is wandering around crazy’

Young sometimes eaten (F59)

wolf kyáakítaaɁ

rutting male nó(ó)nis-kyáakítaaɁ = crazy-wolf

nóónitehíínotáasiɁ = ‘he is wandering around crazy’

Scouts were called ‘wolves,’ and if they had seen another camp on

their trip, they howled like wolves upon returning to camp (K191)

Young sometimes eaten (F59)

red fox báat-oouh = red-swift fox

swift fox nóouhháh

Foxes were trapped (K149). The swift fox was involved symbolically in the

kit fox lodge (K231). Used as trimming (F62)

bear wósɁ

cub wóuɁuh

wóúɁuutóóɁ

grizzly nonóóc-íikétó-Ɂ = white-shoulder-one

nonooc-íikétoɁoni-kɁi = white-shoulder-one

noo-iϴoouɁeen-osɁi = white-???-bear (2560b)

black woɁaatáán-osɁi = black-bear

Bears were trapped (K149)

Not sought for food, but eaten when killed. The grease was saved and used (F59)

raccoon wooɁatáán-oocí-kyɁ = black-eye-it

marten Ɂotótah (spelling? – from E.S. Curtis)

fisher néeiyɁo [same as ‘otter’?]

noɁohoɁ [Kroeber NB 42; same as ‘mink’]

weasel téih

Used as trimming (F62)

bf ferret báatónii-téih = prairie dog-weasel

mink n(o)ɁóhoɁ

Bags sometimes made from the pelt (F62). Used as trimming (F62)

wolverine ɁóhɁánɁ bóhɁouɁ = mtn badger

badger bóhɁouɁ

The badger is involved symbolically in the crazy dance (K231); also eaten (F59)

skunk tóouh

otter néeih

Fur used for caps and mittens in winter (F62)

Bags sometimes made from the pelt (F62). Used as trimming (F62)

mtn lion bitóókyaaɁ

Ɂaabetyiih ‘big one’ (Kr 2560b, NB 42)

bobcat tow-óón-néíhii-bitóókyaaɁ = short-tail-one-mtn lion

lynx no name known

HOOFED MAMMALS

elk Ɂiwósiih

Elk horn was used to make hide scrapers (K150); teeth were the most important

decorative item on clothing (F62). The name for the teeth is Ɂiwosiihoocit.

mule deer bíhɁih

buck bíhɁihiih Ɂiwotóótibiih

Ɂanaakei-bihɁih (Kr 2560b)

fawn wóuɁuh

wóúɁuutóóɁ

Polished deer hooves were attached to robes and clothing and left to dangle

because they made a nice sound when one walked (F62)

white-tail deer Ɂótiby-oonín-eih = dog-tailed-one

moose Ɂinénhih

pronghorn noosíkyíh

bison ɁíítaanóónɁi

bull ɁanáákyaaɁ

female biih

herd ɁíítaanóónɁi

calf wóuɁuh

wóúɁuutóóɁ

nihóóni-wóuɁ = yellow-calf

buff chip no name known

Bison were the central animal of Gros Ventre culture. See K148-49.

bighorn Ɂótééíh

mtn goat no name known

caribou no name known

Additional General Information

Though bison hides were used for robes and tipis, deer, elk, and antelope were

normally used for clothing (F61). Elk was more durable, but deer was more flexible

and preferred for the finest clothing (F62). Antelope was preferred for breechclouts

(F62))

Food and water containers were made of buffalo heart membrane, paunch, bladder

and intestines, as well as those of elk and deer (F64-5)

“CREEPIES AND CRAWLIES”

REPTILES

snake síisííyaaɁ

Snakeskin was sometimes used to cover and ornament bows (K151)

rattlesnake síisííyaaɁ

níí-síísiiyóni-kɁi = habit-rattle-it

bull/gopher ɁótaaɁ

garter snake Ɂiníícih

turtle bɁánóouh

lizard kóóhoyaah

Lizards are believed to bite people and then hang on and suck their flesh

into their mouthes (K281). 2560b gives koohootyaah.

horned toad ɁitóóníwooɁ

The horned toad was used as a decorative emblem (K167)

AMPHIBIANS

frog kokóáh

tadpole wóówooɁóócííh

kokóóhii-tooɁ = frog-young

toad kóuɁ-kokóáh = swollen-frog

kóuw-kokóáh = swollen-frog

INSECTS AND SPIDERS

insect byíítaaɁ

ant wóówos-tóyɁéíhiih = bad-biter

anthill wóówostóyɁéíhyóh Ɂí-yééíhɁ-iinínooɁ = ants its-lodge-pl

bedbug téɁ-téibɁi = flat-louse

bee ɁóówɁu

beehive Ɂóówuu-níiinɁo = bee-lodge

honey Ɂóówuu-baaɁ = bee-excrement

butterfly bohɁóon-téíbeih = thunder-louse

caterpill bíis-bíítaaɁ = hairy-worm/bug

byoosou-biitaaɁ = bare(?)-bug [Kroeber NB#42]

tent cat ɁóoounóɁohootééíh

Tent caterpillars are believed to dance if one sings or plays a drum for them

centipede ɁanináatétaaɁ (= ‘whirlwind’ as well)

cricket Ɂisíktóneih

dragonfly bíítooh-óotɁa = ‘insect-horse’

Definition given in Kroeber MSS 2560b, NB 45, p. 25. He gives the word as byiiϴoo-hooϴibyii (pl.).

flea béɁ-teibyɁi = ‘red-louse’

fly nóubaa (see ‘spider’)

grasshopper níhɁaacéeih

hornet ɁóówɁu

hornet’s nest Ɂóówuu-níiinɁo = ‘bee-lodge’

horsefly kohɁácaaɁ

leech wóówooɁóócíih

ɁanináatétaaɁ (also = ‘whirlwind’)

louse Ɂa-téibɁi = your-louse

nit yáanah

maggot Ɂaníiih (also ‘larva’)

mosquito kóouɁ-ééíhih = swelling-one

One of the Gros Ventre age-grade dances was given by the mosquito, and

that insect is imitated in part of the dance (K231)

moth Ɂohóókyaa-nén = crazy-man [Miller Moth]

The Crazy ManɁs society went by the same name as this moth.

spider níhɁootoh

daddy long-legs Ɂaay-óonaa-kɁ níhɁooth = long-leg-it has spider

tick Ɂisíiih

wasp Ɂóów

water strider noosíkyih (= ‘antelope’ as well)

WORMS

worm byíítaaɁ

‘red legless water worm’ ɁanináatétaaɁ = ‘whirlwind’ (K280)

MOLLUSKS

shell byéeiɁih (especially freshwater mussels, ‘moon shell’)

abalone shell kookooɁoϴeiht [Kroeber NB 41]

dentalium shell ɁaɁayooniihihɁoh [Kroeber NB 41] = ‘long-bodied ones’?

oblong shell kookooɁateihihɁoh [Kroeber NB 41] (used in place of elk

teeth)

mollusk shell ɁoohohoɁ [Kroeber NB 41]

FISH

fish nówuh

dead fish nikíínowóhɁo (‘dead fish’)

fingerling nówuutóoɁ (‘young fish’)

Kroeber reports that fish were only caught by children for amusement (K149)

minnow nówuu-tóoɁ = fish-young

sucker kóóɁaan-ék-Ɂi = round-mouth-it has

PLANTS

GENERAL TERMS

bark ɁinóoosɁi

berry biiɁ or byiiɁ

-ibyinoh or -ibinoh or -uwunoh (as noun suffix)

branch ɁitéɁ

bush, brush ɁíikóúɁ or nááyáach

-bíisɁ or -wúusɁ (as noun suffix)

flower nɁíiɁóotóónoh (= ‘growing things’)

-aɁaa- (as incorporated form in verbs; = ‘head’)

grass wosíɁ

-otoo (as incorporated form in verbs)

leaf bíicíísɁ

-ikoo (as incorporated form in verbs)

nut niikóóɁówuh

root ɁíníiicɁi

-ítaan (as incorporated form in verbs)

sap, pitch, gum tóóúɁ or kéeiɁ or kyéiɁi

seed, pit or stone of fruit cíicsíbɁi

stem/stalk -oocééí (as incorporated form; = ‘rope’)

thorn khúu- = ?

tree ɁohóókɁi

appear (grass) bíítotoo-

appear (new growth) bíítoɁoo-

brushy, to be kyoɁooɁee-

fall (leaves) kyánikóo-

new growth, to have bíísíiiɁoo-

wóóníiiɁóo-

thick (grass) kyóɁotoo-

unripe, to be kináatáánéhi-

FORMAT:

FAMILY NAME (English version of family name)

Plant species [Common English name] Gros Ventre name = English translation of GV name

Notes on uses of the plant

CUPRESSACEAE (Cypresses)

Juniperus communis [Common Juniper] kóhkɁunáásibɁi = ‘roll in the dust’ (?)

béɁ-itáacɁ = red-pine

berries kyóóóhɁtowúnoh

Used to cure asthma (K226)

leaves kyóóóhɁtowúukooɁ (accent?)

Used as remedy for hemorrhage (K226)

Used as incense by doctors, prior to work (K226)

Juniperus horiz. [Creeping Juniper] táatoou-wúusih = pine-bush

The previous word and identification is also given by Kroeber (MSS 2560b, NB 46). Used for incense, and also for hemorrhages.

Sabina scopulorum (?) [Rocky Mtn Juniper] béɁi-táacɁ = red-pine