On Native American day in the United States, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed several legislations to support California Native communities and advance equity and inclusion. One of the legislations, Assembly Bill 2022, requires that the derogatory and sexist term "squaw" be removed and replaced from all geographic features and place names in the state, totalling over 100 areas. While the Dunlap Band of Mono Indians were pleased with the welcomed name change and viewed it as a historic victory, others were not so overjoyed, including Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig (La Times). Magsic was quoted as saying, “I’m disturbed by what has happened. The state just charged ahead without giving folks an opportunity to weigh in on whether they want the name of their community changed" (LA Times). While it is unfortunate that not everyone is pleased with the name change, especially all the "folks" Magsig is alluding to, it is clearly more important to consider what the name change represents as the Govenor looks to reconcile with Indigenous communities through various measures, including the removal of outdated and offensive language from public areas as one measure of progress.

This article made me think about Thomas King's musings on the importance of stories in his book, "The Truth About Stories". King frequently recounts stories that he shares with others to "do what they wish with them" and are the "cornerstones of our culture" (King 95). I find it significant that in the LA Times, the local Indigenous communities were pleased and thankful for the bill as it will remove the derogatory and racial slang from numerous landmarks and public areas but the County supervisor, an individual that is not personally impacted or more importantly, personally offended by the original naming, is speaking out about the abruptness of the legislation. All that matters in this case is that those involved, ie. local/regional/international Indigenous communities (and the rest of human kind), are vindicated as the etymology of the term contradicts what mainstream society believed it to mean. By removing the term, many stories out there can start to have revisions, as (small) steps are being taken to counteract against discrimination and disenfranchisement in our societies.

Work Cited

King, Thomas. The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative. House of Anansi, 2003
LA Times Article. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-09-25/new-law-will-remove-the-word-squaw-from-california-place-names