JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Wyoming will likely have to make some changes following a Department of Interior decision declaring “squaw” a derogatory term and creating a task force to remove the word from federal place names.
Some 650 place names the U.S. use the term squaw—43 are in Wyoming. Teton County has three Squaw Creeks, a Squaw Basin, and a Squaw Canyon.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland last week formally established a process to review and replace derogatory names of the nation’s geographic features. She also declared “squaw” to be a derogatory term and ordered the Board on Geographic Names—the federal body tasked with naming geographic places—to implement procedures to remove the term from federal usage.
“Racist terms have no place in our vernacular or on our federal lands. Our nation’s lands and waters should be places to celebrate the outdoors and our shared cultural heritage—not to perpetuate the legacies of oppression,” Haaland said. “Today’s actions will accelerate an important process to reconcile derogatory place names and mark a significant step in honoring the ancestors who have stewarded our lands since time immemorial.”
John Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund, commented, “Names that still use derogatory terms are an embarrassing legacy of this country’s colonialist and racist past. It is well-past time for us, as a nation, to move forward, beyond these derogatory terms, and show Native people—and all people—equal respect.”
In Teton
Teton County has a Squaw Creek south of Game Creek that empties into Snake River. Another is found down Fall Creek Road between Butler Creek and Rock Creek. The third Squaw Creek is in the Gros Ventre Wilderness near Blackrock Creek and Cottonwood Creek.
Squaw Canyon is on Teton Pass, southeast of Talbot Canyon and Burbank Creek. Squaw Basin is off Brooks Lake snowmobile trail on Togwotee Pass.
