Nearly 70 Arizona sites renamed for containing Native American slur

PHOENIX – Almost 70 geographical areas in Arizona have been renamed by federal officers this week to switch a phrase thought-about to be derogatory towards Native American ladies.

The U.S. authorities has stop utilizing the time period “squaw” by renaming a whole lot of peaks, lakes, streams and different geographical options on federal lands throughout the western United States and elsewhere.

In Arizona, greater than 67 totally different spots within the state have been renamed. 

This is not the primary time this sort of change has occurred. Squaw Peak was renamed Piestewa Peak in 2008.

Close by streets have been additionally later given new names in honor of Arizona soldier Lori Piestewa, the primary feminine Native American to die in fight.

Phoenix to dismantle Squaw Peak, Robert E. Lee road indicators

“The Division of the Inside right now introduced the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) has voted on the ultimate alternative names for practically 650 geographic options that includes the phrase sq___,” learn an announcement from the U.S. Dept. of the Inside. “The ultimate vote completes the final step within the historic efforts to take away a time period from federal use that has traditionally been used as an offensive ethnic, racial and sexist slur, significantly for Indigenous ladies.”

The modifications introduced Thursday capped an virtually yearlong course of that started after Deb Haaland, the primary Native American to guide a Cupboard company, took workplace in 2021. Haaland is from Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico.

The Native American Rights Fund, a nonprofit authorized group, welcomed the modifications.

“Federal lands ought to be welcoming areas for all residents,” deputy director Matthew Campbell mentioned in an announcement. “It’s nicely previous time for derogatory names to be eliminated and tribes to be included within the dialog.”

Haaland in November declared the time period derogatory and ordered members of the Board on Geographic Names, the Inside Division panel that oversees uniform naming of locations within the U.S., and others to give you alternate options.

The time period originated within the Algonquin language and will have as soon as merely meant “girl.” However over time, the phrase morphed right into a misogynist and racist time period to disparage Indigenous ladies, consultants say.

Discover all of the geographic identify modifications right here: https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/all-official-sq-names

The Related Press contributed to this report.