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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

SR: Good To See “Squaw” Go Way Of Dodo

Imagine tooling around the Inland Northwest and being confronted with place names like Pickaninny Prairie, Chink Channel and Beaner Basin. Oh, and over there, it's Mick Mesa and Greaser Gulch. Cringe. Well, that's how it can feel when a Native American happens upon Squaw Bay or Squaw Creek. And that's why that place name is being expunged throughout the Northwest. The mini-controversy this triggers – that is, what to name it – is minor compared with the good will engendered by the understanding that the original name was derogatory. It's a measure of progress that Spokane County commissioners didn't complain last week that Squaw Creek was undergoing a name change when presented with optional names by the Washington State Board on Geographic Names -- Spokesman-Review Editorial Board.

Full editorial here

Question: Do you agree with the name change for Squaw Bay: Neachan Bay?



Huckleberries Online

D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.