More than two dozen lakes and other sites in Wisconsinare among nearly 650 peaks, lakes, streams and other places on federal land in the U.S. that have been renamed by the government because they included a racist term for a Native American woman.
The changes announced Thursday capped a nearly yearlong process that began when Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, an American Indian, took office in 2021 and worked to remove the offensive word “squaw” from use on federal geographic features and lands.
“I feel a deep obligation to use my platform to ensure that our public lands and waters are accessible and welcoming. That starts with removing racist and derogatory names that have graced federal locations for far too long," said Haaland, from Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico.
In Wisconsin, there are 28 places that have been renamed including Squaw Island in Door County, now named Keyes Island.
Chairman of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Ron Corn Sr., tells WLUK-TV he had hoped the names would have been removed sooner, but the fact that it's happening at all is gratifying.
“That helps mitigate a piece of the past that we just assumed would not perpetuate,” said Corn Sr. “So I think as a society we’re coming to terms with how we treat one another respectfully.”
The public has a chance to weigh in on the new names until April 25.
Haaland meanwhile created a panel that will take suggestions from the public on changing other places named with derogatory terms.
