New law will remove the word ‘squaw’ from California place names
The state Board of Equalization has proposed removing the word “squaw” from a list of place names listed in state law.
That’s because the name is offensive to Native Americans, including some Native Hawaiians.
The proposal would add words in their place, which the board says recognizes the historical contributions of native people and the Native American tribes.
The proposed name would be added to Section 5 of Article 12 of the California Penal Code, which deals with names and words used in identifying places.
The proposed name for Siskiyou County: “Sacred Siskiyou County,” a fitting replacement.
The proposed name for Kern County: “San Joaquin County.”
The proposed name for Butte County: “Butte County,” because the word “squaw” has negative connotations.
The proposed name for Lake County: “Palo Alto-Lake County.”
The proposed name for Yolo County: The same reason.
The proposed name for Shasta County: “Shasta County,” because the word “squaw” has negative connotations.
The proposed name for San Joaquin County: “San Joaquin County,” a fitting replacement.
In 2000, a federal appeals court overturned the Board of Equalization’s decision that the word “squaw” was offensive and prohibited in place names.
The board voted to appeal. It is scheduled to hear oral arguments April 19 in federal court in Modesto.
“This court case is important, not only because the issue is important to native peoples, but also because it is important to California’s economy,” Board of Equalization co-chairwoman and attorney Danelle Singleton said in a statement. “The board hopes the Ninth Circuit will follow the law and uphold the law which allows’sacred’ to carry its own term,’sacred,’ and in so doing, help foster the healing, healing needed for indigenous peoples in California.”
The board’s decision was welcomed by Native Hawaiians, who argue that using the word “squaw” in place names is offensive and damaging to culture and is reminiscent of the Ku Klux Klan’s efforts to eradicate Native American culture and language.
The Board of Equalization in 2004 proposed
