The derogatory term “squaw” will be removed from over 30 geographic features in California by 2025, according to an announcement Friday by the state’s natural resources agency.
The California Natural Resources Agency will remove the word, which is a derogatory term used to describe Native American women, from streets, bridges, buildings, cemeteries and even a forest fire fuel break.
“The names we give to places in California reflect our shared history and culture. These place names should never insult communities or perpetuate discrimination. Today’s action to remove this harmful term from several locations across our state helps right a historic wrong against California Native American communities and represents an important step toward a more inclusive and positive future,” said Wade Crowfoot, the secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, in a press release.
In the past two years, the word has been removed from geographic locations and features on federal lands across the country. In 2022, the Interior Department announced plans to remove the word from more than 660 geographic features and sought public comment on name replacements.