Yurok Tribal Council Asks Federal Government to Revise Racist Place Name
The Yurok Tribe proposed pkwo’-o-lo’ ‘ue-merkw as the new name for this peak.
Press release from the Yurok Tribe:
The Yurok Tribal Council is petitioning the federal government to revise the exceedingly inflammatory name of a mountain peak within Yurok ancestral territory.
Located in the coastal mountains, the peak is currently called Sq—Tit. The Tribe is asking the U.S. Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force to amend the name to pkwo’-o-lo’ ‘ue-merkw (Maple Peak). In November of 2021
, US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland created a formal procedure to review and replace disparaging names of geographic features. The Secretary also ordered the Board on Geographic Names to remove the word Sq— from the federal lexicon.
“This term is extremely offensive to every Native American in the US and it needs to be changed. Our people deserve to live in a world without racist place names,” said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “I think the federal government will approve our request to change the name to pkwo’-o-lo’ ‘ue-merkw. On behalf of the Yurok Tribe, I would like to thank Secretary Deb Haaland for establishing a path to remove hateful place names from the landscape and correct these longstanding injustices.”
On April 19, the Yurok Tribal Council passed a formal resolution regarding the peak name. “The “sq—” word is a derogatory slur that has been used against Native people and is a type of colonial violence,” states the resolution.
The Tribe’s proposal to replace the peak name is part of a national movement to remove racist place titles from public spaces. Across the US, numerous tribes are currently seeking to replace repugnant designations for geographic locations with tribal descriptors. The Yurok Tribe fully supports the tribal nations that are working to correct these historic violations.
Last year, the Tribe worked with California State Parks to successfully alter the name of “Patrick’s Point State Park” to reflect the name of the Yurok village it occupies. The park is now officially designated Sue-meg State Park. The park was previously named after Patrick Beegan, a colonist who committed acts of violence against Yurok people. During the public comment session for the Tribe’s proposal to change the park name, hundreds of local residents from all sectors of the community voiced overwhelming support.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Tribal Advisor and the California Natural Resources Agency signed on to a formal letter of support to the U.S. Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force endorsing the Tribe’s effort to replace the name Sq—Tit with the Yurok term pkwo’-o-lo’ ‘ue-merkw. Additionally, there is broad local support for the renaming of the peak. To formally request the name change, Yurok Chairman Joseph L. James sent a letter to the Task Force. “We believe that there is strong support for changing names that memorialize violence against Yurok people and Indian people. Changing the offensive names designated for geographic features within Yurok Ancestral Territory to the name recommended by the Yurok Tribe will provide some healing for our community and will continue the process of addressing historical wrongs,” Chairman James wrote.
To hear the pronunciation of pkwo’-o-lo’ ‘ue-merkw, please scan code or see the second attachment.
*Recording courtesy of the Yurok Language Program.
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“We believe that there is strong support for changing names that memorialize violence against Yurok people and Indian people. “
I thought Indians were from India, I believe Chris Columbus thought he was in India hence the racist name Indians.
Also let’s just change the name “AMERICA” because it was taken by force and violence from the NATIVES.
How woke can we get?
The name they are changing a hideous name. I looked up your last name and could come up with 10 different racial slurs used on that, probably wrong but hey they sound good. If I started Kym would delete the comment.
Illuminati
North Guanahani? After the Bahamian island Columbus actually landed on? America is named after Amerigo Vespucci, a map maker. The name doesn’t mean much more than what we make it. We should also get rid of anything named after General Larabee. He hunted kids for sport. Absolute demon.
Once upon a time, there was an evil force called “racism”. “Racism” almost died about half a century ago… Almost. Then “some people” decided to blow gently on the dying ember, then add a little tinder, and blow some more. When it showed some promise they blew harder until a flame appeared. The next step was to pile on fuel and take a leaf blower to it. Now the fire is raging, and the idiots that started it are clapping their hands, jumping up and down, and cheering… Problem is, if the fire gets big enough, we all suffer the same. But still, the idiots clap… The end.
Couldn’t agree with you more!
That said, while certainly not a high priority, I would be in favor of changing this name to “Maple Peak”
It didn’t die out, it simply got ignored and those from the dominant culture assumed that meant it was “fixed”. The people subject to inherently racist cultural systems certainly never thought it was over. Recent technology that allows witnesses to document the behavior and spread that information widely has simply led to a resurgence in demands to address the ignored problems.
I agree. Let’s change the name of anything that anyone finds offensive. In the meantime, let’s end all treaties and support to some Americans but not everyone else.
The treaties themselves were written in disparaging terms towards the vanquished. Those must be null and void by now, too, I’d assume.
Let’s call it [your mom’s name] gulch.
Let’s call it mooch slough for those that won’t taking from those that do.
There… fixed it for you!
More kool aid.
Damn, that was spot on!
Lame. Tell us, what was this magic time without racists in this country. What happened to you during this golden decade?Trying to blame anyone but the person who is racist! You are such a victim for redlining them out of neighborhoods, letting them enjoy slavery, claiming an “invasion”…You know why racism is stupid for Republicans? Blacks and Mexicans as a whole are pretty socially conservative.
I salute the Yurok for being proactive: first the push for non-lead shot, then reintroduce Preynogeesh and now changing offensive location names. Good work!
It’s a good thing to change names to be less offensive.
What was right for place names long ago, doesn’t have to stay “right” for us – especially if it’s terribly wrong for others. Sometimes things are named by mistake anyway.
For example: “America is named after Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian explorer who set forth the then revolutionary concept that the lands that Christopher Columbus sailed to in 1492 were part of a separate continent.”
And, curiously: “The term Caucasian as a racial category was first introduced in the 1780s by members of the Göttingen School of History – notably Christoph Meiners in 1785 and Johann Friedrich Blumenbach in 1795—it had originally referred in a narrow sense to the native inhabitants of the Caucasus region.” (The Caucasus is a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea; mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia.)
Notice that despite lots of disparaging names for people of color in the US, there’s only one actual place in the U.S. named “Cracker.” Privilege much?
Considering “Cracker” doesn’t just mean the tasty, salty treat, but also means “Guy holding the whip”………
Maybe we get to that one eventually too.
“Cracker” originates from Florida and has nothing to do with slavery.
Florida Crackers ran cattle through the Florida backcountry.
I, for one, hope that this helps get this vulgar reference to the Indigenous populations’ women changed. I looked on Google Earth, and in a few minutes I found 4 other references to the same name. Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and one in S. Cal. near the Mexico border.
20 years ago (2000-2001) Green Diamond abandoned the topo map name and transitioned to Pollnow Peak on their inventory maps, but I have no info on the origin of that name.
Pollnow Peak was named after a Green Diamond (Simpson) corporate accountant. He put together a financial agreement which allowed for the Green Diamond purchase of Louisiana Pacific Big Lagoon timber lands.
If you have have ever been there… (probably haven’t) the peak looks exactly like a young woman’s breast.
Heck, Indians don’t like the name… just drop the squaw.
Name it ‘Tit Mountain’. Like I said, go there and you will see why.
I have been there, theres a wood deck on the outcrop. Thats the only reason I know the name. couldn’t remember the history though thanks for the reminder.
<cough, cough>
Thank you for keeping us abreast of the situation. A titillating subject to be sure. A subject that needs to be felt out; touched with care and gentleness. It needs a solution that would comfortably bring us together, and lift us up; instead of leaving us flat.
While the above suggestion is honorable, it might be a bust of an idea. I suggest instead the Yurok name of a local bird: the Chestnut-backed chickadee. Because everyone, even map makers and Jeopardy fans, need a pursed-lipped naughty smile in their lives sometimes. ;o)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut-backed_chickadee
The Mendocino NF has a station and campground named “Indian Dick”…will it be next?
To me the term sovereign nation when referring to any specific group of people inside tbe borders of the actually Sovereign Nation United States of America is racist. It is highly offensive and should never be used as it undermines US Sovereignty.
Especially sovereign nations that rely on American taxpayers for their very existence. End all aid to any nation, now!
Any and all aid to any country, state, municipality, or organization should be put to the people for a vote. Congress, both Federal and state have been out of control for too long. Take the power of the purse away and give it to the people, not the government leaches and special interest groups.
In the fourth century ad the vandals conquered north Africa not to take Rome but to build their own nation out of the pieces. If your loyalty is to a sovereign native American reservation then your vision is to benefit your own nation and to dismember the nation your reservation sits inside. If native government wants sovereignty then they should give up welfare, food stamps, disability, SSI, because these are the benefits of said civilization that they wish to be separated from.
You know humboldt also has NI%%ER Joe hill, NI%%ER head peak, and a few others out there many might not know about.
the U.S. Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force… More PC BS.
I’d like to know if there is a domestic violence task force. I’m guessing not. Changing names is great and all, but when will we start punishing men for treating native women as rage recipticles?
Seems PAINFULLY obvious & crystal clear CJ that you wouldn’t know the difference between PC BS and actual injury to a person or people.
Who will be injured by changing this place name? Huh CJ?
Exactly, no one.
So what’s the actual problem you have, besides your own derogatory issue?
Watch out kids the repub snowflakes are at it again…
[edit]
It’s not a disparaging name. It actually honors a perfect breast. Their are peakscwith that name all over the west.
Folks can change a name for whatever reason they want. Many of the names on peaks, or creeks around here, are from people who came and went in much less time than many of us have lived here.
Sq–w is without a doubt a disparaging term specifically directed towards indigineous women.
I am part native and I don’t find it offensive.