WASHINGTON – The U.S Interior Department is seeking suggestions for new names for places that include the word “squaw.” There are such sites in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland signed an order in November to remove the word from the names of geographic features on federal maps. The hope is that states, commercial mapmakers and local usage will follow the federal lead. In the Mohawk language, “squaw” is a word for female genitals that white people have mindlessly if not maliciously used for Indian women broadly since Colonial times. Complete list. Suggestions to: Reconciliation of Derogatory Geographic Names. MS-511. U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192.
Haaland. First Indian as U.S. Interior secretary. Former member of Congress from New Mexico. Of Laguna Pueblo heritage.
Among offending names
Targeted for renaming on U.S. Geological Survey maps:
Minnesota
Itasca County: Squaw Lake (village)
Pine County: Squaw Lake
Wisconsin
Ashland County: Squaw Creek
Bayfield County: Squaw Creek, Squaw Point
Door County: Squaw Island
Forest County: Squaw Creek
Fremont County: Squaw Lake
Jackson County: Squaw Creek, Squaw Mound
Langlade County: Squaw Creek, Squaw Lake
Lincoln County: Squaw Creek, Squaw Lake
Lincoln and Pierce counties: Squaw Creek
Marathon and Wood counties: Squaw Creek
Marinette County: Squaw Creek
Marinette County: Squaw Lake
Menomonie County: Squaw Creek
Oconto County: Little Squaw Lake, Squaw Lake
Outagamie County: Squaw Lake
Park County: Squaw Peak, Squaw Teats
Price County: Squaw Creek
Sawyer County: Squaw Bay
St. Croix County: Squaw Lake
Vilas County: White Squaw Lake