Talk:Osage Nation

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View comments (edit) good formatting, sections filled in but brief; NB Osage language redirects to Osage Nation - separate language article needed --Skookum1 (12 May 06) Is reasonably long, but still has a long way to go; has neutrality disputes and is unreferenced, so I'm keeping it rated Start instead of B --Miskwito 22:47, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

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Contents 1 Called Wazházhe by Europeans? 2 Page Restructuring 3 "related groups" info removed from infobox 4 Washita

[edit] Called Wazházhe by Europeans?

The Osage call themselves Ni-U-Kon-Ska, and were originally called Wazházhe by Europeans, both meaning "Children of the Middle Waters."

What does this phrase mean? If both means the same than what language is the second? Certainly no European language that I know of. I believe the second term is from another indian language and that the europeans came to use it for some reason - but the article need to state that it is not a european word and from which language it originally came.·Maunus· ·ƛ· 12:32, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

As an Osage, I am not familiar with the term "Ni-U-Kon-Ska," but "Wa-Zhá-Zhe" is quite common. It in fact does mean "Children of the Middle Waters." The term "Osage" is believed to have its roots in the mispronunciation of the word Wa-Zhá-Zhe by the French traders and trappers who were the first Europeans to have significant contact with the tribe in the 1600s. However, I'll have to get back to you all with sources on that to make it more than anonymous hearsay. - Will Phillips, 20 June 2007

I too am an Osage, and have heard of the term "Ni U Kon Ska", however the only place I've seen it mentioned is in a book called "The Osages- Children of the Middle Waters" published by University of Oklahoma Press. -Nancy Jinks, 29 August 2007

I think I got everything with the name situation straightened out, Ni-U-Kon-Ska is an ancient/historical self given name for the Osage people meaning "Children of the Middle Waters". Wa-zha-zhe is the name that other tribes in the Ohio River area called the Osage people, when eventually became corrupted as "Osage". This is much like the Cherokee who originally called themselves "Ani-yun-wi-ya", but now more commonly go by "Tsa-la-gi" which is the Cherokee word for the Creek (Muscogee) word "Cherokee" that European explorers learned first. So confusing, I know. - Phil Smith Evaunit511 08:56, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Page Restructuring

The information architecture of the page seems to be all over the map. May I suggest a reformating of sorts?

• Tribal History
  • Prehistory
  • Arrival of Europeans
  • French Traders
  • Lewis & Clark and Nathaniel Pryor
  • Catholic Mission
  • Treaty Making Period with US Gov
  • Discovery of Oil & Chief James Bigheart
• Osages Today
  • Government
  • Language
• Traditional Osage Tribal Social Structure
• Osages in Popular Culture

[edit] "related groups" info removed from infobox

For dedicated editors of this page: The "Related Groups" info was removed from all {{Infobox Ethnic group}} infoboxes. Comments may be left on the Ethnic groups talk page. Ling.Nut 23:06, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Washita

The edits I made to the Washita section, meant to remove some of the bias comprimising the neutrality of the article, were deleted almost immediately afterwards. I understand the Battle of Washita is a heated issue, but the language being used to describe it goes against Wikipedia's NPOV policy. Charged words like "sad chapter" and "peaceful" have no place in this article. If you have an agenda you'd like to push, consider contributing to the discussion going on at the Battle of Washita article.

I just toned down the bias again, let's see how long it lasts -Phil Evaunit511 00:37, 10 November 2007 (UTC)