British Columbia takes ‘squaw’ off maps

VICTORIA, British Columbia – The derogatory slang term squaw is being eliminated from all official place names under the jurisdiction of the British Columbia government.

British Columbia’s aboriginal groups, including the First Nations Summit and the Union of British Columbia Indian chiefs, requested the government replace the offensive names, the Environment and Parks Ministry said Friday.

Squaw is an offensive term used to describe an aboriginal woman.

There are 11 place names in the province using the word. They include: Squaw Creek, Squaw Fish Lake, Squaw Mountain, Squaw Island and Squaw Range.

The common freshwater fish known as the squawfish has been renamed pikeminnow by fish scientists.

Consultations with aboriginals, residents, historical societies and government agencies will occur before the locations receive new names.

Preference will be given to other traditional names or names in local use.

Saskatchewan, Alberta, Prince Edward Island and the Yukon are among Canadian jurisdictions that have already removed the word from place names.

Dozens of American states, including Maine, have done the same.

The British Columbia government has also been removing the derogatory term Chinaman from various provincial place names in recent years.