The renamed sites are in California, North Dakota, Tennessee. And Texas, completing a year-long process to remove the historically. Offensive term from geographic names across the country.
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced Thursday that it has renamed five places. that before included a racist term for a Native American woman.
The renamed sites are in California, North Dakota, Tennessee and Texas. Completing a year-long process to remove the historically offensive word. “Squaw” from geographic names across the country.
“Voices matter, especially in our work to make our nation’s public lands. And waters accessible and welcoming to people of all backgrounds.” Interior Secretary Deb Holland said in a statement. He called the term “harmful”.
Haaland, who takes office in 2021, is the first Native American to lead a cabinet agency.
In September, the Interior Department announced a final vote on a proposal to rename. About 650 sites that contain the term. The agency conducted an more review of seven sites. All which were considered unorganized population sites. Thursday’s announcement made five of those changes.
In western North Dakota, the new name Homesteaders Gap was chosen by members. Of a small community as a nod to their local history.
Mark Fox, tribal chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa. And Arikara Nation, welcomed the change. Telling the Bismarck Tribune that the slur “really causes serious and strong emotions. And resistance to that word.” In a statement to The Associated Press, he said it was long overdue. And “we are pleased that the racially sensitive and offensive name has been removed.”
But Joel Brown, a member of the McKenzie County Board of Commissioners. Said many residents in the area “felt very strongly” against the switch. Brown, who is white, said he. And others prefer as little interference from the federal government as possible. Because “generally we find they’re disconnected from the culture and the economy here.”
Two other newly named places are the California. Central Valley community of Loybas Hill. Which translates to “Young Lady” proposed by the Pasquenta Band of Nomlaki Indians. And Yokuts Valley.
The others are Partridgeberry, Tennessee and Linn Creek, Texas.
The precedent for the decision has been there for a long time. The Department of the Interior ordered the renaming of places. With derogatory terms for blacks and Japanese in 1962 and 1974, respectively.
Last year alone, authorities renamed 28 Wisconsin sites to remove a racist term. A panel recommended renaming a Colorado mountain linked to a massacre. And the federal government labeled hundreds of peaks, lakes. Streams and other geographic features as racist and misogynistic. Name changed. Conditions
