December 6, 2002

Dear Mrs. Christensen,

I am writing this letter in response to an assignment you gave your class on choosing Indian names for themselves. Because I am from Wisconsin and I don't know your nationality, I will explain to you our tribe's way of getting Indian names.

I am a Menominee, Stockbridge/Munsee Indian from the Menominee Indian Reservation in north eastern Wisconsin. Our traditional religion is called, "Big Drum." There is a process in obtaining or getting an Indian name. As you told your class, we do not just randomly choose a name. When we want one of our children to get their name, we make an offering of tobacco to the person who is in a position to give Indian names. You see, not everyone can give names. It is an honor and position that is earned.

Once we make our offering, the person will ask who the name is for. They will then ask to meet and/or hold the child or person. As with the case of my oldest daughter, she was four years old, and the gentleman I asked to name her already knew her and our family, so he gave me the time and place to bring her. It is our tradition that names are given on Easter or Thanksgiving, so we were to bring her to that particular ceremony.

During these ceremonies, our language is spoken. When our daughter was called, she went to his side and he told her story, the story of where her name came from and what it meant. When he was finished, he called me to his side and told me that during the feast he would tell me her name, what it meant and what we should do. Her Menominee name is, "Waupanokiew-matamo," which means, "Lady of the East," or "Woman of the East." He also told us that from that day forward we should call her by her name at least once a day.

Our son's Menominee name is, "Wapekeniew," which means, "White Eagle Spirit," and our youngest daughter's Menominee name is, "Ahwapahqokiew," which means, "Happy Woman." The reason I mentioned that the children get their names first is because I never got my Indian name until 1990. You see, when I was a young boy, my parents went to a gentleman, made their offering and they were told to bring me to the Easter ceremony. But, the ceremony was so big that day and so many people were getting their names that they did not have time to get to me. So when the day ended, he told my Mom and Dad to bring me back on Thanksgiving and he would give me my name then. But between those two dates, this gentleman passed away, so my name went with him on his journey. For whatever reason, my parents chose not to have me named. I remember asking one of my friends who gives names why I don't have a name yet, and he told me that when the time was right, it would happen. Plus, he reminded me that the children come first.

Well, in February of 1990 my Mother passed away, and my Dad had died in 1983. My children had gotten their names, and 1 wanted to get mine. You see, it is our belief that when we die and we go on our j ourney to that better place (most Indians do not believe in heaven or hell), we will come to a major fork in the road. While we are standing there wondering which way to choose, a voice will ask us if we have an Indian name. We then tell the spirit our name and we are directed to the proper path. You see, it is our belief that if you do not have an Indian name, when you get to this fork and you cannot give your name, you will wonder endlessly on your journey.

I went to the widow of the gentleman my parents had asked those many years ago to name me, made my offering and asked if she'd name me. She looked at me and said she would be honored. Now, I do not speak our language very well, so when she called me to her side at the ceremony, she gently held my hand, told my story and told my name. She then reached into her pocket, gave me a piece of paper with my name on it and also what it meant. My Menominee name is, "Powekonnay," which means, "One who changes his feathers." It refers to the Eagle. When the Eagle is perched and cleans themselves of their old feathers, that action is my name. You see, part of our tradition is to name people not after animals but what an animal may do.

Two years ago a cousin of mine asked me if she could adopt me in our traditional way. You see, she lost a son many years ago, and because both of my parents are no longer walking Mother Earth, there is a ceremony we have where she will then be my Mother here on Earth. So we had the ceremony and I now have the added honor of carrying her son's name. His name was, "Mayawhakasic," which means, "That purple color in the sky." During sunrise or sunset, certain times a purple hew will come across the sky... that, too is my name.

Now, one more thing I would like to share with you. My Mom's parents were fullblooded Menominee, and my Dad's Mom was Stockbridge/Munsee. But my Dad's father came from Czechoslovakia. My Grandfather came to this country when he was fourteen years old and he was a certified Blacksmith. He knew his language, a slur of German and a little bit of English. When he died he knew seven languages fluently. But, when he came to America, his last name was spelled, "Plasova." As was the norm in those days, his name was changed to Plass. The reason I share this with you is that I am in contact with my family in Czechoslovakia. I write to then quite often and my life long dream is to one day go there and meet them.

In conclusion, I hope you now have a better understanding of "Indian names" and the importance and significance of their origins. I have tried to live as traditional a life as I can since I was a young boy. I am proud and honored that my parents taught me the things they did and that my children now know the things they do. So when I see or hear of teachers, people, Boy Scouts or whoever telling children to "choose" an Indian name like you have with your class, I get quite upset. We continue to do things in our traditional ways because that is what makes and keeps us Indian. There are over 535 tribes in the United States, and they all have their own identities, traditions and ways. Our traditions are not to be taken lightly or used as a class "project." I have written this letter to try to share with you one tribe's way, belief and tradition. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me any time.

Thank you kindly,

Richie Plass