Give it a try. (It took me 2 weeks of steady searching to find just the right name – Baroness Schotzie Luisa Von Yapp)

There is no single “American Indian” language. The first peoples here in what we call America had numerous languages, mostly unique to a tribe or a region. Of those some languages survive and even thrive among remaining members of the people or tribes. These languages are also often idiomatic… they refer to things in a word-picture format… so you may have some difficulty finding a solution of just one word, let alone just one syllable. To give you an example, some time ago the local people were negotiating with the politicians over some issue or other. One politician seemed unable to make up his mind. Rather than say that he was undecided, a native lady said that he seemed to be “trying to cross this pond with each foot in a different canoe.” ( and that was in English!)

The best thing you can do, in my opinion, would be to contact the local original people in your area and ask. No one I have ever encountered has taken offense at a genuine interest in his or her cultural heritage. An elder of the community would be the most likely person to speak the tongue well enough to be able to give you several options.

Best of luck!

Tom

The Paiute people are from the Great Basin, covering areas in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, California, and Oregon. I am of the Paiute people as well as of the Shoshone who are from the same area.

Also, I agree with Tom. ;o)

low : ” chhutkoo” or ” nichchee”

mountain : ” pahadhi ” and a combination of all these can be “nanha-kuttu” or “nanha-pilloo”. Say hi to your doggie:) do let me know which indian name you preferred?