>>March
      2, 2001

      
It would be a different story if it was
      called 'Whore Valley'

      
The word "squaw" litters
      place names across Idaho and the West but until January no one
      thought of doing anything about it. The Idaho state legislature
      took an admirable stand to erase this offensive term from Idaho
      maps despite the cost, at least the Senate did.

      


      Many people in Idaho - Caucasian and Native American - were ignorant
      of the meaning of "squaw." Most would answer that "squaw"
      was a generic Native American word for woman, much like "papoose"
      is understood to mean baby. However, "squaw" means
      something much worse.

      


      According to the Lewiston Morning Tribune, "squaw"
      is an obscene reference to Indian women. It also is a word for
      female sex organs or a synonym to the word "whore."
      I had learned the true definition of "squaw" several
      years ago. Even though I learned it while in my teens, I was
      still taken-back at the number of people who had no idea what
      "squaw" meant and therefore saw no reason to change
      it on maps.

      


      I am an Idaho native. I grew up on the Nez Perce reservation
      in North Central Idaho. Still, I remained ignorant to the fact
      that Idaho uses place names with "squaw" in them. I
      am truly surprised the decision was not made long ago to change
      the place names using this derogatory word. Surely, Idaho would
      never call somewhere Whore Valley, so why is saying the same
      thing in a different language OK?

      


      Only one dissent came up when the senate's passed the bill to
      erase "squaw" from Idaho maps. Ucon Republican Stan
      Hawkins told the Tribune he was against the bill because of the
      cost ­ not because he was a racist. Still, cost should be
      the one of the last things on anyone's mind. Remember that budget
      surplus everyone wants to spend? We should use it to erase a
      derogatory term and an embarrassment to Idaho. Idaho really cannot
      afford the alternative of pointing out its racist stereotype
      once more.

      


      While the name change was approved by the senate, the house state
      affairs committee voted the bill down in 10-9 vote this week.
      Of course our North Idaho representatives made sure we kept our
      racist stereotype. Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, and Rep.
      John Campbell, R-Sandpoint both voted against the bill. Harwood
      already has problems because of a recent statement about the
      bargaining abilities of Jews, but that's another column. 

      


      "I don't think the word is derogatory," Harwood said,
      "It's the way it's being said that would make 'em take it
      that way."

      


      Campbell called the bill "unnecessary" and "a
      costly waste of time."

      


      It seems that money spent to help Idaho erase our racist stereotype
      would be money well spent, but apparently there are other things
      that are more important as far as Campbell is concerned.

      


      Rep. Twila Hornbeck, R-Grangeville, wins top prize for best grammar
      usage in a racial insult.

      


      "Just because people take it as offensive doesn't make it
      offensive," Hornbeck said. "I really find it offensive
      for people to come and tell me what my language means when I
      have talked this language for 60 years."

      


      Perhaps if Hornbeck valued grammar a little more, she would also
      have a greater value for the meaning of a word as well. 

      


      I am certainly proud to call Idaho, especially North Idaho, home.
 
 

      
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