‘Squaw’ removed from place names. What changed – and what didn’t – in Fresno area

Six place names were changed across the region to remove “squaw” – a term “that has historically been used as an offensive ethnic, racial and sexist slur,” particularly for indigenous women, the U.S Department of the Interior announced.

The new names in the foothills of the central San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Nevada are among nearly 650 others across the United States, including 80 in California, that were decided by a final vote of the Board on Geographic Names.

What hasn’t changed: The names of seven locations that are considered unincorporated populated places – including the town of Squaw Valley in Fresno County – which remain under review.

“I feel a deep obligation to use my platform to ensure that our public lands and waters are accessible and welcoming,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said. “That starts with removing racist and derogatory names that have graced federal locations for far too long.”

Haaland formally declared “squaw” an offensive term last year and then created a Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force to help find new names. It received more than 1,000 recommendations for name changes during a public comment period.

Haaland, the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary, thanked the task force and board for prioritizing the important work, adding, “Together, we are showing why representation matters and charting a path for an inclusive America.”

Here are four new names in Fresno County:

• Yokuts Basin replaces Squaw Valley (the basin, not the town of the same name)

• Tubbe Paa Lake replaces Old Squaw Lake

• Nüümü Hu Hupi replaces Squaw Lake

• San Joaquin Butte replaces Squaw Leap, a cliff

The Bureau of Land Management’s Squaw Leap Management Area in Auberry was renamed in 2003 to the San Joaquin River Gorge Management Area, but a proposed name change for the physical feature wasn’t submitted to the Board on Geographic Names, so it previously officially remained Squaw Leap.

New names in Tulare and Mariposa counties:

• Scratch Creek replaces Squaw Creek, a stream in Tulare County

• Leaning Pine Hill replaces Squaw Hill, a summit in Mariposa County

People can continue to propose name changes for any feature, including those announced Thursday, through the Board on Geographic Names application process.

Secretary’s Order 3404 considered only the term “squaw.” Secretary’s Order 3405 created a federal advisory committee for the Interior Department to formally receive advice from the public regarding additional derogatory terms. Department officials said next steps for that committee will be announced in the coming weeks.

What’s next for Fresno County town of Squaw Valley?

Federal officials shared little on Thursday regarding what’s next for the Fresno County town of Squaw Valley.

The Interior Department said the town and six other places are under an “additional review” by the Board on Geographic Names due to “unique concerns” regarding its renaming, and that the board would seek more information “from the local communities and stakeholders before making a final determination.”

Spokespeople for the board and Interior Department didn’t share how that would happen or an estimated timeline. There was a public comment period earlier this year.

The name could change before the federal government can get to it because of new legislation, AB-2022, that was passed by California’s Assembly and Senate and now awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature, what some think could come on Sept. 23, California Native American Day.

“There’s that bill, on top of federal actions being taken, so it’s definitely very confusing at the local level,” Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig said, “when you have the state and federal government almost tripping over each other to make changes without any local input.”

Magsig, who represents the district where the town sits, asked Newsom to veto the bill. Magsig feels the Squaw Valley community has been left out of discussions about a proposed name change.

Roman Rain Tree feels differently. He started a campaign in 2020 to remain Squaw Valley and submitted a request to change the name with the Board on Geographic Names in January.

Rain Tree amended his request earlier this year, changing the preferred name from Nuum Valley to Yokuts Valley. Yokuts is a regional description for American Indians that encompasses many traditional tribes.

A change.org petition he started has more than 36,500 signatures.

Rain Tree identifies as a member of the Dunlap Band of Mono Indians, along with the Choinumni and Wukchumni tribes. He was very happy to hear of this week’s name changes.

“That’s our language,” he said of Yokuts, Tubbe Paa, and Nüümü Hu Hupi.

He’s hopeful the name of the town will soon be changed, too.

“It’s not cancel culture,” Rain Tree said of his renaming campaign. “It’s cultural survival. If we can get you to no longer see us as a pejorative, then maybe you might see us as a people.”