Intro: Many of the geographic features renamed in Arizona included reservoirs and summits. Some of the name changes used the local Indigenous language to describe the area, but many were derived from nearby geographic features...In Arizona, 66 of the 67 geographic locations were renamed. The one site retained its name because it is listed as a historical site by the Board on Geographic Names.
✓ Note: effective immediately
✓✓ The Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force received more than 1,000 recommendations for name changes during the public comment period, according to the Department of Interior. The task force worked with nearly 70 tribal governments in nation-to-nation consultations, which resulted in several hundred more recommendations.
After the public comment and tribal consultation periods closed on April 25, the task force reviewed all the information and developed a list of final recommendations, and submitted it to the Board on Geographic Names on July 22.
The board then approved the names during a meeting on Sept. 8. Once the names were decided upon by the board, they are immediately official for federal use, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
A derogatory word has been removed from the names of places on federal lands, including 66 sites in AZ
Nearly all federal geographic features using the derogatory word sq*** have formally been renamed, after the U.S. Department of the Interior on Thursday released new names for 643 locations across the United States, including 66 in Arizona.
The name change is the final step in the historic effort launched nearly a year ago by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland after she declared “sq***” a derogatory term because of its historical use as an offensive ethnic, racial and sexist slur for Indigenous women.
“I feel a deep obligation to use my platform to ensure that our public lands and waters are accessible and welcoming,” Haaland said. “That starts with removing racist and derogatory names that have graced federal locations for far too long.”
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Two Democratic state lawmakers, Rep. Jennifer Jermaine and Sen. Victoria Steele, introduced a similar measure during this year’s legislative session, but their bill never received a hearing.
“Changing the names is important to our Native community,” Jermaine wrote in a text message to the Mirror. “It is important to all women to ensure geographic sites do not include defamatory terms meant to degrade and harm women in their names.”
Jermaine praised the work that Haaland has been able to do in renaming the geographic sites on federal land, and she believes that states should be working to do the same thing.
The name changes come after a lengthy process carried out by the Board on Geographic Names and the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force, which was established via secretarial order and included tribal and federal representatives.
“I am grateful to the members of the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force and the Board on Geographic Names for their efforts to prioritize this important work,” Haaland said. “Together, we are showing why representation matters and charting a path for an inclusive America.”
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Date: Thursday, September 8, 2022
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov
WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today announced the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) has voted on the final replacement names for nearly 650 geographic features featuring the word sq___. The final vote completes the last step in the historic efforts to remove a term from federal use that has historically been used as an offensive ethnic, racial and sexist slur, particularly for Indigenous women.
“I feel a deep obligation to use my platform to ensure that our public lands and waters are accessible and welcoming. That starts with removing racist and derogatory names that have graced federal locations for far too long,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “I am grateful to the members of the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force and the Board on Geographic Names for their efforts to prioritize this important work. Together, we are showing why representation matters and charting a path for an inclusive America.”
The list of new names can be found on the U.S. Geological Survey website with a map of locations.
The final vote reflects a months-long effort by the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force established by Secretary’s Order 3404, which included representatives from the Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, National Park Service, Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and the U.S. Geological Survey and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service.
During the public comment period, the Task Force received more than 1,000 recommendations for name changes. Nearly 70 Tribal governments participated in nation-to-nation consultation, which yielded another several hundred recommendations. While the new names are immediately effective for federal use, the public may continue to propose name changes for any features — including those announced today — through the regular BGN process.
The renaming effort included several complexities: evaluation of multiple public or Tribal recommendations for the same feature; features that cross Tribal, federal and state jurisdictions; inconsistent spelling of certain Native language names; and reconciling diverse opinions from various proponents. In all cases, the Task Force carefully evaluated every comment and proposal.
In July, the Department announced an additional review by the BGN for seven locations that are considered unincorporated populated places. 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.
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