By Ron Brown
 
June 2, 2009
 
GRANTS PASS, Ore. - The old adage that sticks and stones may break bones but words will never hurt is apparently not true when it comes to places named 'squaw'.
 
Southern Oregon has several creeks, lakes, and mountains named 'squaw', a term many consider degrading towards Native American women. On Tuesday, Josephine County commissioners approved a decision changing two mountains, a gulch near Wonder, and three creeks in the Illinois Valley to other Native American names.
 
"They're both from languages of tribes that at one time inhabited this area. And they're both feminine gender names. So, they're trying to stay with the same spirit but with just less offensive names," says Josephine County Commissioner Dave Toler.
 
Squaw Mountain near Eight Dollar Mountain, and the three branches of Squaw Creek that flow from it will be renamed Teecumtum Mountain and Creeks, including the east and west forks. Teecumtum was a chief in the area also known as 'Chief John'.
 
Another squaw mountain near Kerby will become Kailapa Mountain, which is a Takelma word for 'woman'. Squaw Gulch near Wonder will become Waywee Gulch, which is Takelma for 'girl' or 'young woman'.
 
"I thought they did a pretty good job in terms of research... in terms of linguistics, to see what those words were. The meaning was close to the same but not derogatory," says Toler.
 
There are dozens of place names all over this region with the squaw moniker. Changing them to Native American names seems to be one way in which state officials can honor the original inhabitants of this country.
 
There's no word from the Oregon Geographic Names Board when the name changes will be finalized and would show up on maps.