Oldsailor65 Loc: Iowa

‘Derogatory And Offensive.’ Tahoe Ski Resort Squaw Valley

Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) | Aug 26, 2020 | News | 0

‘Derogatory and offensive.’ Tahoe ski resort Squaw Valley
The Lake Tahoe-area ski resort Squaw Valley has decided to drop the word “squaw” from its name, ownership announced Tuesday, saying the term is “derogatory and offensive” toward Native Americans.

A new name hasn’t been determined, and is targeted to be unveiled in early 2021 and implemented at the resort by that summer, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows President Ron Cohen wrote in an emailed statement sent Tuesday morning.

“I am pleased to announce our commitment to removing ‘squaw’ from our resort name,” Cohen wrote. “The concerns about our name have been long discussed, but as we all find ourselves in a time of increased awareness and righteous demands for accountability, our leadership team has concluded we must move from discussion to action.”

That discussion gained steam this June. In the aftermath of sweeping nationwide protest demonstrations denouncing r****m and police brutality in the wake of the late May death of G****e F***d in Minneapolis, many activists have called for renaming businesses, cities, geological features and other locations that have names including racial slurs or other derogatory language.

Christine Horvath, a Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows spokesperson, said in a June email that “what’s going on right now” nationwide prompted the business to create a plan to review the use of the term, which has culminated in the recent decision to move forward with the change.

“After extensive historical research, consultation with Native Americans (including the Washoe tribe, who are landowners in our community), and outreach to our local and wider community,” Cohen continued in Tuesday’s announcement, “our leadership has made the firm decision that it is time for our resort to move away from having our identity represented by a term that is deeply rooted in an offensive, demeaning and often violent history.

“The simple fact is that the word ‘squaw’ is now widely accepted as a racial and sexist slur towards indigenous women, and we can no longer ignore the pain caused by perpetuating the use of this term, regardless of intent.”

A page on the Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows website briefly explains that work to determine a new name for the resort will begin “immediately,” but the replacement name won’t be announced until early 2021.

“Implementation of the name change will occur after the winter season concludes in 2021,” the website says, with Cohen’s email saying the resort “can’t feasibly implement” the change before then.

That means that while the name is on its way out, the resort is still officially called Squaw Valley for now, including on its website, social media pages and other communications.

The resort is located along the north side of Lake Tahoe near sister resort Alpine Meadows. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is part of the Alterra Mountain Company, which includes a dozen resorts in the U.S. and Canada controlled by KSL Capital Partners. Alterra also owns Mammoth Mountain and Big Bear in California.

More than a decade ago, the Resort at Squaw Creek held a summit for stakeholders to discuss the use of the term, which included input from Native American leaders, Horvath said. At the end of that summit, the name remained.

More than 100 places across California have “squaw” in their official name, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The word shows up on California maps attached to creeks, rocks and gulches.

https://www.gopusa.com/?p=93984?omhide=true

Liberty Tree

When the name Squaw Valley is mentioned how many do you think actually think something negative about Native Americans or even think about them at all? The name has been used so long it is just a name.

RandyBrian Loc: Texas

My wife pointed out something to me, which may be a little bit relevant. When all the food groups remove Uncle Ben, Aunt Jemima, etc, they will then be called r****t for not having any b****s represented on the packaging. There ain't no winning with some situations. There is nothing that Squaw Valley can do about the name that will be deemed as right.

Seth

This identity politics BS makes it seem more and more like we're all stranded in some bizarre cartoon.

Liberty Tree

You are so right. Once one starts caving there will be no end to demands.

Seth

Which has proven itself true again and again. Once we allow ourselves to give in to bullying once, you can bet they'll be back to milk our submission for every iota they can, each time taking away something dearer than the time before.

Terrorists do that, for example. Ask the Israelis what's happened each time they've ceded anything to the "Palestinians" to get them to stop terrorizing.

ImLogicallyRight

Just wondering.
Supposedly the early settlers called native women "Squaws." Where did that term come from since it isn't an English expression from before it was used to reference Native women.

Was there a term native men called women back in those days? Was it used for all native women or just one or two tribes, and in their native languages. What is it? What do they use to reference them now, in their native languages. Is their any term that the natives from all over America would accept as a reference for native women? In English? In their collective native language? In individual native languages. And finally, what do they refer to them as now? collectively? And in seperate native languages?
Just wondering.

jim_oldman Loc: Lexington, SC

The reason The Lake Tahoe-area ski resort Squaw Valley needs a spokesperson is that no one there has the guts to say this change is unadulterated BS.

Tell me why squaw is derogatory and wife (English) & moglie (Italian) or esposa (spanish) or femme (French) are acceptable. Hell, I can remember when it was OK to call a happy person gay. Gimmee a break.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Did anyone think to ask the squaws how they feel about this???

RandyBrian Loc: Texas

I tried asking my squaw.....I figure another day or two she'll cool off enough to let me back in the teepee.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Need to bring her done firewater as a peace offering.... (And if your lucky there will be some pipe smoking too)

RandyBrian Loc: Texas

LOL.

Seth

The L*****t Democrats don't care, they purport to speak for whomever it is they decide to "champion." If any members of those lucky minorities or groups doesn't agree, they are told in no uncertain terms that they are not a real black person, Indian, Latino or wh**ever.

After all, as we know, "liberals" know better about what's good for us than we do.

jim_oldman Loc: Lexington, SC

It's been a long time for me but I recall seeing (in my mind, no tv then-just radio) the Masked Man on a great white horse silver chatting with his sidekick Tonto. The Lone Ranger asked him the whereabouts of his "woman" & Tonto said with a heavy heart "Kemosabi my squaw was taken & k**led by a warring tribe for her beautiful
scalp."

That's my story and I'm sticking to it ! Hi-Yo, Silver! Away!

Seth

I was always partial to the quip wherein:

"Tonto! We're surrounded by Indians!"

"Speakum for yourself, pale face!"