Oregon 'squaw' geographic names still await changes

Oregon 'squaw' geographic names still await changes



MEDFORD — There likely will be no Indian Maiden Lakes or Indian Maiden Peak in Jackson County. During its recent fall meeting, the Oregon Geographic Names Board declined to replace “squaw” in local geographic names, such as Squaw Lakes, with “Indian Maiden.”

The reason, explained member Stuart Allan of Medford, is that the name change submitted by a local resident sounded nice but lacked the gravitas the board sought. “ ’Indian Maiden’ is kind of an idealized, Arcadian name,” he said.

“Nobody on the board approved it. What we would really like are Native American names that make sense for each place. We’re waiting for the tribes to propose them.”

He was referring to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz and Grand Ronde, whose members include descendants of Indians force-marched from the Rogue Valley to northwestern Oregon in February of 1856. The tribes both objected to the name, he said.


Read more: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20101123/UPDATE/101123024/Oregon-squaw-geographic-names-still-await-changes#ixzz16KXxcfKx

its about time

How Maps Name, Claim, and Inflame." This excerpt from the 2006 book by Mark Monmonier is an interesting read on the origins of colorful and offensive toponyms and efforts to change them (and to resist change):

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/534650.html