Why Naming is an issue for Native Americans

This page was created as part of a World Indigenous Literature Seminar. I was invited by my professor, Dr. Virginia Franklin to include my input as well as raise awareness for the purpose of faculty and student use with the hopes of leading to better resources in the future.

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The word "squaw" has turned out to be offensive to a large number of present day Native Americans because of the usage that degrades Native women, varying from patronizing representations (e.g., picture postcards portraying "Indian squaw and papoose") to racialized nicknames, labels and descriptions. It is equivalent in sound to the words "Negress" and "Jewess," which regard ethnic women as though they were second-class citizens or foreign items.

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One thing I have learned is that there are particular lakes and streams with insulting names. This is causing individuals to feel deeply hurt, upset or angry. Because this was reported, new names are currently being taken into consideration. The U.S. Department of the Interior wishes to remove the word squaw from its geological maps and is operating to modify the names of 660 lakes, streams, mountains and valleys including two in New Jersey- that support the slur that is deemed offensive to Native Americans and women. Two bodies of water that will be receiving the name change include Squaw Brook and Squaw Lake. Suggestions are open to the public. Attached below is the article as well as photos I have incorporated...

https://www.nj.com/burlington/2022/03/offensive-indigenous-word-should-be-removed-from-2-nj-locations-federal-govt-says.html

Tags and Categories: Lakes and streams with insulting names , offensive indigenous words, Squaw Brook, Squaw Lake, U.S Department of Interior, New Jersey