Posted on Apr 20, 2022
Dozens of Northwest places have a slur in their name. People are coming up with replacement names...
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People with an interest in geography or Pacific Northwest history are coming up with replacement names for dozens of places around the region that currently have a name considered derogatory. The U.S. Secretary of the Interior launched the search for new names by ordering a specific racial slur stricken off the map nationwide as expeditiously as possible.
Kevin Bacher has long enjoyed hiking in Mount Rainier National Park. Many times the Eatonville, Washington, man has passed by Squaw Lake, since it's right alongside the popular Wonderland Trail.
"The most memorable thing about this particular lake is how mosquito-y it is," Bacher said with a knowing chuckle.
The small, tree-rimmed lake is now also noteworthy for its name.
"Like a lot of people, I grew up not even thinking about the names of places like this,” Bacher said in an interview. “But as I became aware of the historical context and the derogatory nature of the name, it does make you think maybe the name should be changed at some point. I’m glad it's happening."
Kevin Bacher has long enjoyed hiking in Mount Rainier National Park. Many times the Eatonville, Washington, man has passed by Squaw Lake, since it's right alongside the popular Wonderland Trail.
"The most memorable thing about this particular lake is how mosquito-y it is," Bacher said with a knowing chuckle.
The small, tree-rimmed lake is now also noteworthy for its name.
"Like a lot of people, I grew up not even thinking about the names of places like this,” Bacher said in an interview. “But as I became aware of the historical context and the derogatory nature of the name, it does make you think maybe the name should be changed at some point. I’m glad it's happening."
Dozens of Northwest places have a slur in their name. People are coming up with replacement names...
Posted from kuow.orgPosted in these groups: State of Oregon
State of Washington
Department of the Interior
Racism
National Park Service
State of Washington Department of the Interior Racism National Park Service
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Roughly one-fifth of the comments received by the federal government — and in response to a separate solicitation by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources — objected to the renaming process ordered by the nation's first Native American Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland. Those commenters said the effort was a waste of time, or an ill-considered exercise in "wokeness," or said the government shouldn’t rewrite history.
Mike Iyall is a former Cowlitz tribal vice-chair who currently sits on Washington state's geographic names review committee. His take is this might be a chance to replace a demeaning generic place name with the names of original inhabitants.
"It was belittling and derogatory to not give somebody a proper name on their feature,” Iyall said during a recent committee meeting. “If anybody knows who that person might be, that name should be brought forward."
A Department of the Interior spokesperson said representatives of more than 100 tribes across the nation participated in a series of agency webinars to answer questions and receive tribal input in the renaming process. The Colville Confederated Tribes are engaged on the matter, but the cultural committee chair said through an assistant she was not available for an interview. A Yakama Nation spokesperson did not return a call for comment."...
..."Roughly one-fifth of the comments received by the federal government — and in response to a separate solicitation by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources — objected to the renaming process ordered by the nation's first Native American Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland. Those commenters said the effort was a waste of time, or an ill-considered exercise in "wokeness," or said the government shouldn’t rewrite history.
Mike Iyall is a former Cowlitz tribal vice-chair who currently sits on Washington state's geographic names review committee. His take is this might be a chance to replace a demeaning generic place name with the names of original inhabitants.
"It was belittling and derogatory to not give somebody a proper name on their feature,” Iyall said during a recent committee meeting. “If anybody knows who that person might be, that name should be brought forward."
A Department of the Interior spokesperson said representatives of more than 100 tribes across the nation participated in a series of agency webinars to answer questions and receive tribal input in the renaming process. The Colville Confederated Tribes are engaged on the matter, but the cultural committee chair said through an assistant she was not available for an interview. A Yakama Nation spokesperson did not return a call for comment."...
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Since when is “squaw” a derogatory term? My personal opinion is some people don’t have enough to do in their life.
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