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Tsuyvtlv t1_iuj5zxa wrote

Reply to comment by thajcakla in TIL that when the French first arrived in North America they met the Ojibwe Indians who introduced them to other tribes but used nasty names. The Lakota/Dakota people were called "Nadowessiwag," which became Nadouessioux in French, then Sioux in English. It means "little snake." by marmorset

> Why don't they just call themselves by the name in their actual language?

We do, but people always ask us what they "mean" so it's usually easier to just lead with that and wait for "how do you say that in Native American?" which sometimes they ask and sometimes they don't. Then there's the additional complication of having a good traditional Cherokee name like George or Willy, or Susan or Mary, and being asked "but what's your Indian name?"

And I'm really only partly kidding, English names are basically traditional names now among many Tribes since we've been using them for a few centuries.

(Edit: to answer the question actually asked because apparently I can't read the first time through.)

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thajcakla t1_iujp626 wrote

I'm talking about personal names, not tribal names.

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Tsuyvtlv t1_iujx3nd wrote

Derp, I can't read, apparently. Edited to answer the question you actually asked.

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