California to remove ‘offensive’ place names

California Governor Gavin Newson originally ordered the word “squaw” to be removed from names in a bill in 2022

The word “squaw” will be dropped from the names of dozens of places across California, as it is widely deemed a slur that denigrates Native American women, Californian officials have announced on Friday.

The word will be removed from the names of more than 30 geographic features and locations, now that a committee tasked with reviewing them has approved new names, the California Natural Resources Agency said in a press release.

“Its removal is a crucial step in recognizing the ongoing trauma and oppression that Native communities have faced,” the government body wrote. “This action, praised by tribal, local, and state leaders, is seen as a significant step toward a more inclusive California.”

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The new names are expected to go into effect at the start of 2025, in line with a bill originally approved by California Governor Gavin Newson in 2022.

“The term ‘squaw’ is a racist and derogatory term that has historically been used as an offensive ethnic, racial, and sexist slur, particularly for indigenous women,” the document says. The new names will be chosen by committee to “honor and recognize” the indigenous tribes and languages native to the region, the bill states.

The term is believed to have originated from the Native American Algonquin word for “woman,” but has now been officially declared an offensive and derogatory term.

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The updated place names are set to take effect by January 1, 2025, as part of nationwide efforts to replace derogatory terms on geographic features.

Last year, the US renamed a number of military bases that bore the names of Confederate officers, as part of a years-long Congressional push in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests.

Last month, during his election campaign, President-elect Donald Trump promised to change the name of Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg.