Thought this was a pretty good example of how people misinterpret an adoption ceremony, and also how naming can be done. Within minutes of the adoption, both Obama himself and the reporter covering the story misunderstood what happened.
-------------------
Crow Nation welcomes Barack Black Eagle
May 20, 2008 - 10:04AM
Source: ABC
Black Eagle: Barack Obama at Crow Agency, Montana
Photo: Reuters
Democrat Barack Obama has become an honorary member of an American Indian tribe and promised a proactive policy to help tribal people if he wins the White House in November.
The Illinois senator who is leading rival Hillary Clinton in their race for the party's presidential nomination, joined the Crow Nation, a tribe of some 12,100 members in Montana, taking on a native name and honorary parents in a traditional ceremony.
Senator Obama, who would be the first black US president, was "adopted" by Hartford and Mary Black Eagle and given a name which means "one who helps all people of this land".
"I was just adopted into the tribe, so I'm still working on my pronunciation," Senator Obama told a crowd after stumbling over some of the native names.
"I like my new name, Barack Black Eagle," he said.
"That is a good name."
Many in the audience wore traditional feather headdresses and some banged drums ahead of Senator Obama's visit, the first by a presidential candidate to the Crow Nation.
Senator Obama held rallies throughout Montana, which holds its primary election on June 3.
The state is home to some 60,000 American Indians, making them a key swing vote, according to Crow Nation spokesman Dale Old Horn.
Senator Obama said he would appoint a Native American adviser to his senior White House staff if he wins and would work on providing better health care and education to reservations across the country.
"Few have been ignored by Washington for as long as Native Americans, the first Americans," Senator Obama said.
Old Horn said the tribal members related to Senator Obama because of his background.
"His heritage of being poor, of being an outsider, you know those two things are the commonalities that he has with us," he said.
"We've always been treated like outsiders when it comes to government policy. In addition to that, we all grew up poor."
- Reuters
