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Removing a Racial Slur From Place Names in Oregon

Posted by: Tim Halbur

8 August 2010 - 9:00am

The word "squaw" is considered a racial slur by Native Americans. In 2001, women from the Warm Springs Tribe convinced Oregon lawmakers to take the word out of state place names, but little has happened so far.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation took things a step further this week by releasing a list of place names they would like changed.

But, as Kate Loftesness reports, "...(c)hanging names is not quick or easy. The 25-member Oregon Geographic Names Board approves changes but with no budget, votes only twice a year. Its recommendations go to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which takes up to eight months to okay them or not, says Lou Yost, of the board, located in Virginia."

Full Story: Tribes, panel work to remove 'squaw' from Oregon place names
Source: The Oregonian, August 5, 2010
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