NATIVE NAME CHANGE
By Thomas Dahlheimer
December 17, 2004
Reference: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_8_41/ai_n8588106
Published in the National Catholic Reporter
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Native Name change
By Thomas Dahlheimer
In Minnesota, "Land of 10,000 Lakes," there is a large and beautiful lake named Mille Lacs.
Its outlet river is named Rum. The Sioux Indian name for the Rum River is Wakan.
According to historical documents found in Minnesota Geographic Names (Upham, 1920), white explorers
gave the Rum River its current name in the late 18th century. The white men mistranslated the name
Wakan, turning a name that means Spirit or Great Spirit to mean an
alcohol spirit, rum.
My efforts to show due respect for the sacred name Wakan led me to seek a change in the
derogatory name of the Rum River.
Twenty years of work within the Catholic church, countercultural organizations and indigenous
communities gave me the experience and contacts I needed to inform my fellow citizens along
the river and throughout the state of Minnesota.
Archbishop Harry Flynn of the Minneapolis and Saint Paul archdiocese has given his support
for my effort to change this river's name. And a bishop secretary of the Pontifical Council
of Peace and Justice wrote me to let me know that the Pontifical Council has "taken note"
of this social justice ministry of mine.
THOMAS DAHLHEIMER
Wahkon, Minn.
[Thomas Dahlheimer is a Catholic social justice activist and the founder and director of
the Rum River Name Change Organization, located in Wahkon.]
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