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Strength of Native culture overpowers oppression
Bernal: Changing 's-word' controversial but needed to make difference

by Morgan Winsor

Winsor Itís a five-letter, one syllable vindictive name that Native women have hated for nearly two centuries. Referred to as the "s-word," the name "squaw" is a hurtful word, offensive and degrading to Native American women, said Ruby Bernal, a Shoshone-Bannock tribal member. She said the word is another name for the genitals of women. Yet the word litters Idahoís map. More than 93 locations in the state contain the word "squaw." And tribal members throughout Idaho want the name wiped off the map entirely. Idaho tribal members are inching closer to changing eight of those place names. In April, the Idaho Geographic Place Names Advisory Council met with tribes throughout the state to discuss replacing the names. After several hours of mulling over the issue, the council motioned to accept eight Nez Perce names to replace four place names that contain "squaw," and four that contain the word "papoose." But the council only has the power to approve the names, not replace them. The names were supposed to be voted on by members of Idahoís Historical Society Board, when it met Aug. 2 in Wallace. However, Bobbi Viker, Idaho State Historical Society administrative assistant, said no discussion took place at the meeting and the recommendations from the Idaho Geographic Place Names Advisory Council were passed out to board members. Action will take place at the October 25 meeting in Boise, she said. It doesnít end there. Bernal said if approved by the society board, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names makes the final judgment. "Itís a very arduous and time consuming," Bernal said. "But it was a very positive move for the place names advisory council to accept the name changes. Itís the first time ever." Bernal said changing all 93 names that contain the "s-word" could take a while. "I think this is at least a 10-year project," she said. And sheís probably right. Twice now the state legislature has failed to pass a resolution to eliminate the word "squaw" from the stateís federal map. The first resolution was killed by one vote last year in committee. The second resolution went under the knife two months ago. Instead of voting to approve the removal of the word "squaw," the house drafted a new resolution encouraging Idahoans to suggest changing names that they think are offensive and present alternatives name changes to the State Historical Society. Many Native American women are offended that the word "squaw" was removed from the resolution altogether.




Ruby Bernal (left) is pictured with other panelists during a Boise State University Native American week discussion.
"It was an easy way out," said Sonya Rosario, executive director of the Women of Color Alliance. "It takes the responsibility off them (politicians). Theyíre playing it safe." The meaning of the word "squaw" has deep roots in history, dating back to the mid 1800ís when white men who worked as trappers and hunters hiked through the region and traded goods for sexual services from women, who they called "squaws." "It was a way to communicate between the white settlers," Bernal said. "When the white man wanted to have a woman for the night they would ask for a squaw. They traded horses, furs, guns, liquor and food." Bernal, a member of the Intermountain American Indian Advisory Council for Region #4, said the word "squaw" has haunted her since childhood. "They (white males) would drive by while I was walking to school and yell the name (squaw) out the window at me," she said. "I donít want to worry about that happening to my children." Janet Ward, a member of the American Association of University Women, supports confiscating the name. "We definitely support changing squaw names," Ward said. "And people have to realize that the name arenít just offensive to Native American women, it offends all women." Bernal said abolishing the word is "highly controversial" and a "touchy subject" because some tribes ‚ like the Navajo ‚ have accepted the word as part of their language. Ward said the process of eliminating any offensive geographical name could be frustrating. "The forms are complicated," she said. "And you need to have a lot of support." But having enough support doesnít seem to be a problem when it comes to the ësí word. "Most tribal members and leaders feel the same," Bernal said. When and if the National Geographical Name Sight Board in Washington, D.C., does approve removing the name, Bernal said sheíll begin her work first by changing some of the "really offensive geographic names on the map." She said Squaw Tit in Custer County and Squaw Hump in Benewah County are the first to go. "Montana, Oregon, Minnesota, Maine and Oklahoma have removed place names that contain the ës-word.í Letís take the ës-wordí off all forest service maps," Bernal said. "We need to make a difference in our life and for our kids."
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