CrapTer VII 
INFLUENCE OF WILD RICE ON GEOGRAPHIC NOMEN- 
CLATURE’ 
INTRODUCTION 
One of the simplest and most natural reasons for calling a particular 
locality by a definite name is that that locality is characterized by some 
one product. This is the way thata great deal of America was named 
by her primitive people. There is ‘‘ Trout lake,” ‘‘ Elm lake,” ‘* Sugar 
Camp lake,” ‘‘ Rat lake,” ‘‘ Beaver lake,” ‘‘ Rice lake,” ‘‘ Wolf river,” 
‘Big Rice river,” *‘ Little Rice river,” ete. Such names become fixed 
by continuous use, and often persist long after the object for which 
they were given has perished. 
The purpose of this chapter is to throw further light upon the ex- 
tensive habitat of wild rice, and the importance of the grain to the 
Indian. It is desirable to call attention to the fact that some of 
the places which now bear the name of ‘* Rice” were notso named by 
the Indian. It will be noticed that the Siouan name for wild rice is 
found only west of the Mississippi river, except as it is applied to a few 
small streams immediately tributary to this river from the east, while 
the Algonquian names dominate the territory east of the river. The 
explanation of this is the fact that the Dakota Indians were nearly all 
driven from the territory east of the river before the white man 
learned their local geographic names. After that time the Indian 
languages throughout the wild-rice district east of the Mississippi river 
were Algonquian, with the single exception of that of the Winnebago, 
who speak the Siouan language. 
The dominance of the French in this district during the period of 
the fur trade explains the prevalence of French geographic names. 
The making of English names is going on to-day as in the past. 
Names referring to wild rice are given because of the prevalence of 
the grain, or are a translation of an Indian or French term. 

1This chapter can be, at best, only a catalogue, and not even an alphabetic one. For purposes of 
historic and scientific study, if for no other, Indian geographic names ought to be maintained. 
If the translation of the Indian name is ugly, or not euphonious, the original is often very musical in 
sound. No one would think of exchanging the Anglicized ‘‘Chicago’’ for its Indian equivalent 
“Place of the skunk.’’ Certainly no argument need be made for the beauty of the Anglicized 
Indian names Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Mississippi. There is generally better reason for 
maintaining Indian geographic names than there is for replacing them by some fortuitousname. Yet 
unscientific and senseless as are some names, one acknowledges amusement when he learns that a 
map is made designating a lake ‘‘ Uncle Lake,” in honor of an old gentleman who is a frequent 
visitor or hanger-around in a State land office. 

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