71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
 LC 250
 
                           A-Engrossed
 
                     Senate Joint Memorial 3
                  Ordered by the House March 27
            Including House Amendments dated March 27
 
Sponsored by Senators BROWN, DERFLER, Representatives GARDNER,
  MINNIS
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
 
  Urges United States Secretary of the Interior,  { + United
States Secretary of Agriculture, + } United States Board on
Geographic Names and Oregon Geographic Names Board to remove term
squaw from names of geographic places in State of Oregon.
 
                         JOINT MEMORIAL
To the United States Secretary of the Interior, United States
  Secretary of Agriculture, United States Board on Geographic
  Names and Oregon Geographic Names Board:
  We, your memorialists, the Seventy-first Legislative Assembly
of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled,
respectfully represent as follows:
  Whereas geographic places in the State of Oregon contain the
term 'squaw,' including Squaw Back Ridge in Jefferson County,
Squaw Creek in Deschutes and Jefferson Counties, Squaw Gulch in
Wallowa County and Squaw Island in Coos County; and
  Whereas the term 'squaw,' originating from an Algonquin word
for female anatomy, is derogatory, a racial slur, and as such,
offensive to Oregonians, Indian and non-Indian alike; and
  Whereas in 1993 the Oregon Geographic Names Board recommended
that the federal government change the name of Squaw Butte in
Harney County to Paiute Butte; and
  Whereas in chapter ___, Oregon Laws 2001 (Enrolled Senate Bill
488), the Seventy-first Legislative Assembly would prohibit
public bodies in this state from using the term 'squaw' in names
of public property; and
  Whereas the states of Maine, Minnesota and Montana have removed
the term 'squaw' from the names of public property; now,
therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  (1) We call upon the United States Secretary of the Interior,
United States Secretary of Agriculture, United States Board on
Geographic Names and Oregon Geographic Names Board to remove the
term 'squaw' from names of geographic places in the State of
Oregon.
 
  (2) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to the United States
Secretary of the Interior, United States Secretary of
Agriculture, United States Board on Geographic Names, Oregon
Geographic Names Board and to each member of the Oregon
Congressional Delegation.
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