2002 Legislation
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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 42 – Geographical names, “squaw” changed

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 42

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Daily Data Tracking History



HCR042.............................................................by TRAIL
GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES - "SQUAW" - Stating findings of the Legislature and
recommending that the State Historical Society conduct necessary public
meetings and report to the United States Board on Geographical Names
regarding the Legislature's goal of eventual renaming of all geographical
place names in Idaho to eliminate the use of the word "squaw" so that
changes may be made on any federal maps and reference materials containing
the word "squaw."
                                                                        
01/24    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
01/25    Rpt prt - to St Aff

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-sixth Legislature                  Second Regular Session - 2002
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 42
                                                                        
                                          BY TRAIL
                                                                        
  1                               A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
  2    STATING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND MAKING  RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING  THE
  3        WORD "SQUAW."
                                                                        
  4    Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
  5        WHEREAS,  the word "squaw" is offensive and hurtful to Native Americans as
  6    a derogatory name for Native American women; and
  7        WHEREAS, the state of Idaho encourages tolerance and understanding between
  8    non-Indian citizens and Indian tribal members; and
  9        WHEREAS, it is inappropriate for geographical  place  names  in  Idaho  to
 10    include this word; and
 11        WHEREAS,  it  is  appropriate  for  the State Legislature to take steps to
 12    achieve the goal of the eventual renaming of all geographical place  names  in
 13    the state of Idaho to eliminate the use of this word.
 14        NOW,  THEREFORE,  BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-
 15    sion of the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature, the House  of  Representatives  and
 16    the  Senate  concurring  therein,  that we recommend that the State Historical
 17    Society conduct necessary public meetings and  report  to  the  United  States
 18    Board  on  Geographic Names the Legislature's goal of the eventual renaming of
 19    all geographical place names in the state to eliminate the  use  of  the  word
 20    "squaw"  so  that  changes can be made on any federal maps and reference mate-
 21    rials containing the word "squaw."

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                            RS 11659

Native Americans and many citizens of the state find the term
"squaw" objectionable and offensive to Native Americans.  The
resolution establishes a process by which all place names in the
State of Idaho containing the word "squaw" be identified and a
plan developed for renaming such places.  The Idaho Historical
Society is the authorized agency to develop a plan for
identifying and renaming such places.  Once this process is
completed the Idaho Historical Society conveys their
recommendations to the National Geographic Name Site Board with
their recommended name site changes.
                          FISCAL IMPACT

The costs associated with this project are minor and can be
absorbed by current appropriations.

Contact
Name: Rep. Tom Trail 
Phone: (208) 332-1000




STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                   HCR 42