Feds scrubs disparaging term ‘squaw’ from federal use in U.S.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of the Interior has completed replacing the term “squaw” from nearly 650 names of geographic features nationwide.

The department on Sept. 8 announced the Board on Geographic Names voted on the final replacement names for all federal landmarks and places, including waterways. The changes are in accordance with the U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s Order 3404, issued Nov. 19, 2021, and affect 51 sites in Oregon.