'Restoring Newe Place Names, Removing Derogatory Geographic Names' project
LCPD Original Territories & Historical Researcher Nolan Brown leads the forum discussion.
By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Language and Culture Preservation Department hosted a forum on “Restoring Newe Place Names, Removing Derogatory Geographic Names” on Friday, April 8.
On November 19, 2021 the Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland signed Secretary’s Order 3404 declaring “squaw” (henceforth written as sq_) as a derogatory term and establishing the Derogatory Graphic Names Task Force to review and select replacement names for the 665 geographic features with the term sq_ to submit to the Board on Geographic Names for action. About 259 of those sq_ names are within Shoshonean original territories.
The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes directed the Cultural Committee and tribal staff to evaluate the issue. Daniel Stone, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Fish & Wildlife Department Policy Analyst, took up the project narrowing down 57 new names particularly within areas of Shoshone-Bannock interests.
Nolan Brown, Original Territories & Historical Researcher handed out a list of current name proposals LCPD has worked on by sitting down with lead language instructors Zelphia Towersap and Tony Moon Elk Shay, and others in the department.
The event was being funded through their Traditional Practices for Wellness in Shoshone-Bannock Country grant.
Brown says he sees addressing restoring our Native place names as a path to wellness because in doing so they’re addressing systemic racism.
“If you think these names shouldn’t bother us, they really do and the perceptions of our non-Native people of these names and the places really get skewed,” he said.
“By us reclaiming our homelands through our own place names we can correct some of those things that have been occurring, these different stories that might pop up, or fantasies really,” he said.
Name and map display.
The discussion was also meant to share oral histories of the Shoshone-bannock Tribes regarding the locations; to learn the culture as told through the people’s stories; to share lessons and speak the language to encourage future learning and use; to encourage families to share through storytelling.
Brown went over the list of 57 names they came up with to get the people’s opinions.
One example is SQ_ Creek located in Bannock Creek, located in Power County, which had four proposed names: Donambi’na Baa’; Newe Baa’; Indian Creek or Tsaa Naivi Creek.
He said, “Because of the structure of this Secretarial Order those derogatory place names that are within our territories and reservation we have the say on what those are going to be named and the other tribes are responsible for their own territories,” he said. Adding the current information is not set in stone and they are still gathering information.
The written comments for the names are due on April 24 for consideration and will be submitted to the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) for review and action. The BGN will render their decision on September 24.
Some of the suggestions from the comments of the April 8 forum suggested gathering input from hunters and community members familiar with the specific areas.
Fort Hall Business Council Chairman Devon Boyer expressed it was good to consider people’s stories they have of the areas and perhaps those can be considered.
Jessica Matsaw said the new proposed names replacing the sq_ word would provide a good opportunity to empower young women as well as holding people accountable to be respectful.
Another forum on the discussion for tribal members will continue on Zoom on Friday. April 18 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call or email Hovia Edwards at 208-236-1189 or email hedwards@ebtribes.com for meeting ID and passcode.
For more information, or a list of the materials, contact Theresa Bache at 208-236-1187 or Nolan Brown at 208-478-4025 or email nbrown@sbtribes.com.
