|
The following 23 Quapaw gentes were gathered by J.O.
Dorsey circa 1890 from Alphonsus Valliere, Mrs.
Stafford, George Redeagle, and Buffalo Calf.
Anthropologists and ethnographers make a distinction
between “clans” in which membership is inherited through
the mother, and “gentes” (singular form “gens”) in which
membership is inherited through the father. Among the
Quapaw, membership passes through the father, so,
technically, the Quapaw system consists of gentes rather
than clans. Since J.O. Dorsey was an ethnographer, he
used the technical terms “gens” and “gentes”. However,
the word “clan” is more commonly used by everyone other
than ethnographers and anthropologists and “clan” has
generally been used when speaking of
such family groups within the
Quapaw social structure.
1) Beaver gens
zha-we ni-ʰka-shi-ka (žáwe níkkašíka)
- the Beaver gens, obtained from Alphonsus Valliere
cf. zha-we (žáwe) - beaver; ni-ʰka-shi-ka
(níkkašíka) - people
2) Bird gens
wa-zhiⁿ-ka e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (wažį́ka énikkašíka)
- the Small Bird gens, obtained from Alphonsus Valliere
wa-zhiⁿ-ka e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (wažį́ka énikkašíka), zhiⁿ-ka
e-ni-ka shi-ka (žį́ka énikkašíka)
- Small Bird people, obtained from Mrs. Stafford (Haⁿ-ka
gentes, Haⁿ-ka side)
cf. wa-zhiⁿ-ka (wažį́ka) - bird; ni-ʰka-shi-ka
(níkkašíka) - people
3) Bear, Black Bear gens
wa-sa e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (wasá énikkašíka)
- the Black Bear gens, obtained from Alphonsus Valliere
cf. wa-sa (wasá) - black bear;
ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) - people
4) Bear, Grizzly Bear gens
maⁿ-tʰo e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (mątʰó enikkašíka)
- the Grizzly Bear gens, obtained from Alphonsus
Valliere
maⁿ-tʰo e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (mątʰó énikkašíka)
- Lion (presumably grizzly bear, as this is the term
used by all Dhegiha people for the grizzly bear) people,
obtained from Mrs. Stafford (five gentes not on the
Haⁿ-ka side)
cf. maⁿ-tʰo (mątʰó) - grizzly
bear; ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) - people
5) Buffalo gens also known as Small Haⁿ-ka gens
ʰte ni-ʰka-shi-ka (tte níkkašíka)
- Buffalo people or
haⁿ-ka zhi-ka (hą́ka
žíka) - Small
Haⁿ-ka, obtained from Mrs. Stafford (Haⁿ-ka gentes,
Haⁿ-ka side)
ʰte e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (tte énikkašíka)
- the Buffalo (the ordinary buffalo) gens, obtained from
Alphonsus Valliere
cf. ʰte (tte) - buffalo;
ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) - people
haⁿ-ka zhi-ka (hą́ka
žíka)
- Small Haⁿ-ka, obtained from Mrs. Stafford (Haⁿ-ka
gentes, Haⁿ-ka side)
cf. haⁿ-ka (hą́ka) - ancestral
gens or first gens; sacred; zhi-ka (žíka)
- small, little, young
6) Buffalo, Reddish Yellow Buffalo gens
to-xe ni-ʰka-shi-ka (tóxe níkkašíka)
- the Reddish Yellow Buffalo gens, obtained from
Alphonsus Valliere
to-xe ni-ʰka-shi-ka (tóxe níkkašíka)
- Reddish Yellow Buffalo people, obtained from Mrs.
Stafford (Haⁿ-ka gentes, Haⁿ-ka side)
cf. to-xe (tóxe) - reddish
yellow buffalo; ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka)
- people
7) Crane gens
ʰpe-tʰaⁿ e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (ppétʰą énikkašíka) - the Crane gens, obtained from Alphonsus
Valliere
cf.
ʰpe-tʰaⁿ (ppétʰą)
- greyish-blue crane; ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka)
- people
8) Crawfish gens also known as Large Haⁿ-ka gens
haⁿ-ka ʰtaⁿ-ka (háⁿka tańka)
- Large Haⁿ-ka or maⁿ-shka e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (mą́ška
énikkašíka)
- Crawfish people, obtained from Mrs. Stafford (Haⁿ-ka
gentes, Haⁿ-ka side)
cf. haⁿ-ka (hą́ka) - ancestral
gens or first gens; sacred; ʰtaⁿ-ka (ttą́ka)
- big, large
maⁿ-shka e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (mą́ška
énikkašíka)
- Crawfish people, obtained from Mrs. Stafford (Haⁿ-ka
gentes, Haⁿ-ka side)
cf. maⁿ-shka (mą́ška),
moⁿ-shka (mǫ́ška)
- crawfish; ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) -
people
9) Deer gens
naⁿ-paⁿ-taⁿ (náⁿpaⁿta)
- a Deer gens, obtained from Alphonsus Valliere
10) Eagle gens
xi-da ni-ʰka-shi-ka (xidá níkkašíka)
- the Eagle gens, obtained from Alphonsus Valliere
xi-da ni-ʰka-shi-ka (xidá énikkašíka)
- Eagle People, obtained from Mrs. Stafford (Haⁿ-ka
gentes, Haⁿka side)
cf. xi-da (xidá) - eagle;
ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) - people
11) Elk gens
oⁿ-pʰoⁿ (ǫ́pʰǫ)
- Elk gens, obtained from Alphonsus Valliere
oⁿ-pʰoⁿ e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (ǫ́pʰǫ énikkašíka)
- Elk gens, J.O. Dorsey notes
oⁿ-pʰoⁿ e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (ǫ́pʰǫ énikkašíka)
- Elk People, obtained from Mrs. Stafford (Haⁿ-ka gentes,
Haⁿ-ka side)
cf. oⁿ-pʰaⁿ (ǫ́pʰą), oⁿ-pʰoⁿ (ǫ́pʰǫ), iⁿ-pʰoⁿ (įpʰǫ)
- elk; ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) - people
12) Fish gens
ho i-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (hó iníkkašíka)
- fish people gens, left moiety, Haⁿ-ka gens; from
ʰti-o-a-di-maⁿ (ttíoádimą) - one of the five
original Quapaw villages mentioned in early French
narratives, often spelled Toriman or Thoriman by the
French, J.O. Dorsey notes
ho i-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (ho iníkkašík͓a)
- the Fish gens, obtained from Alphonsus Valliere
ho i-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (ho ínikkašíka)
- Fish people, obtained from Mrs. Stafford (five gentes
not on the Haⁿ-ka side)
cf. ho (ho) - fish; ni-ʰka-shi-ka
(níkkašíka) - people
13) Haⁿ-ka gens
haⁿ-ka (hą́ka)
- Ancestral gens or First gens, J.O. Dorsey notes
haⁿ-ka e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (hą́ka énikkašíka)
- the Haⁿ-ka or Ancestral gens, obtained from Alphonsus
Valliere
cf. haⁿ-ka (hą́ka) - ancestral
gens or first gens; sacred; ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka)
- people
14) Mountain Lion or Panther gens
ʰtaⁿ-daⁿ e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (ttądą́ énikkašíka), ʰtaⁿ-daⁿ ʰtaⁿ-ka
e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (ttą́dą ttą́ka énikkašíka)
- the Panther or Mountain Lion gens, obtained from
Alphonsus Valliere
cf. ʰtaⁿ-daⁿ (ttądą́), ʰtaⁿ-daⁿ ʰtaⁿ-ka
(ttą́dą ttą́ka), ʰtaⁿ-naⁿ ʰtaⁿ-ka (ttą́ną ttą́ka), iⁿ-ʰtaⁿ-daⁿ
(įttą́dą), iⁿ-ʰta-naⁿ ʰtaⁿ-ka (įttánąttą́ka) -
panther, puma, mountain lion; ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka)
- people
15) Quapaw gens
o-ka-xpa (okáxpa)
- Quapaw gens of the same tribe, dwelt on right side of
tribal circle,
J.O. Dorsey notes
cf. o-ka-xpa (okáxpa) -
Quapaw, people who went downstream
16) Sky or Upper World gens also known as Thunder Being
gens
ma-xe ni-ʰka-shi-ka (máxe níkkašíka)
- Upper World people, identical to wa-ʰkaⁿ-ʰta e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka
(wakką́tta énikkašíka) - the Thunder Being gens,
obtained from George Redeagle and Buffalo Calf
cf.
ma-xe (máxe)
- sky; the upper world; ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka)
- people
wa-ʰkaⁿ-ta e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (wakką́tta énikkašíka) - the Thunder Being gens, obtained from
Alphonsus Valliere
cf.
wa-ʰkaⁿ-ʰta (wakką́tta)
- God; mysterious, sacred; Thunder being; ni-ʰka-shi-ka
(níkkašíka) - people
17) Snake gens
we-s’a e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (wésʔa énikkašíka)
- the Serpent gens, obtained from Alphonsus Valliere
cf. we-s’a (wésʔa) - snake;
ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) - people
18) Star gens
mi-ʰka-x’e ni-ʰka-shi-ka (mikkáxʔe níkkašíka)
- the Star gens, obtained from Alphonsus Valliere
cf.
mi-ʰka-x’e (mikkáxʔe)
- star; ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) - people
19) Sun gens
mi e-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (mi énikkašíka)
- the Sun gens, obtained from Alphonsus Valliere
cf. mi (mi) - sun; ni-ʰka-shi-ka
(níkkašíka) - people
20) Turtle gens
ʰke ni-ʰka-shi-ka (kké níkkašíka)
- the Turtle gens, obtained from Alphonsus Valliere
ʰke ni-ʰka-shi-ka (kke níkkašíka)
- Turtle people, obtained from Mrs. Stafford (five
gentes not on the Haⁿ-ka side)
cf. ʰke (kke) - turtle;
ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) - people
21) Wolf or Dog gens
shoⁿ-ke ni-ʰka-shi-ka (šǫ́ke níkkašíka)
- the Dog or Wolf gens, obtained from Alphonsus Valliere
shoⁿ-ke ni-ʰka-shi-ka (šǫ́ke níkkašíka)
- Dog or Wolf people, obtained from Mrs. Stafford
(Haⁿ-ka gentes, Haⁿ-ka side)
cf. shoⁿ-ke (šǫ́ke) - dog;
ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) - people
22) meaning unknown, presumably an extinct gen
ni-ki-a-ta (níkiáta)
- meaning unknown, obtained from Mrs. Stafford (five
gentes not on the Haⁿ-ka side)
23) meaning unknown, presumably an extinct gens or
division
ʰti-zho (ttížo)
- meaning not obtained, now extinct, obtained from Mrs.
Stafford (five gentes not on the Haⁿ-ka side)
The following 8 Quapaw gentes were gathered by A. S.
Gatschet circa 1890 from Alphonsus and Frank Valliere.
1) Bear, Black Bear gens - same as obtained by J.O.
Doresy
wa-sa ni-ʰka-shi-ka (wasá níkkašíka)
- Bear People, obtained from Alphonsus and Frank
Valliere
cf. wa-sa (wasá) - black bear;
ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) - people
2) Beaver gens
- same as obtained by J.O. Doresy
zha-we ni-ʰka-shi-ka (žáwe níkkašíka)
- Beaver People,
obtained from Alphonsus and Frank Valliere
cf. zha-we (žáwe) - beaver; ni-ʰka-shi-ka
(níkkašíka) - people
3) Corn or Maize gens
- not obtained by J.O. Dorsey
tʰaⁿ-ze ni-ʰka-shi-ka (tʰązé
níkkašíka)
- Maize People,
obtained from Alphonsus and Frank Valliere
cf.
wa-tʰo-zi (watʰǫ́zi),
wa-tʰaⁿ-ze (watʰą́ze)
- corn, maize;
ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) - people
4) Deer Gens
- differs from Deer gens obtained by J.O. Dorsey by
actually using the word for deer rather than naⁿ-paⁿ-taⁿ
(náⁿpaⁿta)
ʰta ni-ʰka-shi-ka (ttá níkkašíka)
- Deer People, obtained from Alphonsus and Frank Valliere
cf. ʰta (tta) - deer; ni-ʰka-shi-ka
(níkkašíka) - people
5) Elk gens - same as obtained by J.O. Doresy
oⁿ-pʰoⁿ i-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (ǫ́pʰǫ ínikkašíka)
- Elk People, obtained from Alphonsus and Frank Valliere
cf. oⁿ-pʰaⁿ (ǫ́pʰą), oⁿ-pʰoⁿ (ǫ́pʰǫ), iⁿ-pʰoⁿ (įpʰǫ)
- elk; ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) - people
6) Raccoon gens - not obtained by J.O. Dorsey
mi-ʰka i-ni-ʰka-shi-ka (mikká
ínikkašíka)
-
Raccoon People, obtained from Alphonsus and Frank
Valliere
cf.
mi-ʰka (mikká)
- raccoon; ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) -
people
7) Snake gens - same as obtained by J.O. Doresy
we-s’a ni-ʰka-shi-ka (wésʔa níkkašíka)
- Snake People, obtained from Alphonsus and Frank
Valliere
cf. we-s’a (wésʔa) - snake; ni-ʰka-shi-ka
(níkkašíka) - people
8) Wolf gens - differs from Dog or Wolf gens obtained by
J.O. Dorsey by actually using the word for wolf rather
than the word for dog
shoⁿ-ʰtaʰ-ka ni-ʰka-shi-ka (šǫ́ttąka
níkkašíka)
- Wolf people, obtained from Alphonsus and Frank
Valliere
cf. shoⁿ-ʰtaⁿ-ka (šǫ́ttąka)
- wolf; ni-ʰka-shi-ka (níkkašíka) - people
|
