'Squaw' Erased From All Maine Public Place Names

Beautiful Squaw Butte.By: Associated Press
Published: September 08, 2011 PORTLAND, Maine --
The word "squaw" has finally disappeared from the names of all public places in Maine 11 years after state law aimed to wipe the word deemed offensive by Native Americans off maps. But the owner of a private ski resort with the word in its name refuses to go along, saying it's a tribute to American Indians.
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names this summer approved name changes for a half-dozen locations in northern Maine's Aroostook County that still contained a variation of the word "squaw," which many Indians say is offensive and translates to prostitute or whore.
"It's unfortunate it took 11 years," said Wayne Mitchell, the Penobscot Indian Nation's representative in the Legislature. "I thought as a civilization we were a lot further along than I guess we were at this time."...Continue reading