The Department of the Interior (DOI) recently announced that the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force concluded its review of more than 660 geographic features with the name sq___, a term that has historically been used as an offensive ethnic, racial and sexist slur, particularly for Indigenous women; a DOI press release said.
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is expected to vote on the Task Force recommendations for renaming the features in September, the release said.
“I am grateful to the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force for their work to ensure that racist names like sq___ no longer have a place on our federal lands," U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in the release. "I look forward to the results of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) vote, and to implement changes as soon as is reasonable.”
In November 2021, Haaland declared "squaw" to be a derogatory term and started the process to remove that and other derogatory terms from names of public spaces and monuments, the release said.
In addition to the replacement names recommendation to the BGN, the Interior Department has also recommended an additional review of seven unincorporated populated places: Sq___ Harbor, Alaska; Sq___ Hill, Calif.; Sq___ Valley, Calif.; Sq___ Gap, N.D.; Sq___berry, Tenn.; Sq___ Mountain, Texas and Sq___ Place, Wyo.
"Noting that there are unique concerns with renaming these sites, the BGN will seek out additional review from the local communities and stakeholders before making a final determination," the release said.
