New law expands ban on ‘squaw’
6/9/09 | 49 comments
state house

New law expands ban on ‘squaw’


By Kevin Miller
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY JOHN CLARKE RUSS
A new Defence Point Road sign is posted in front of the road's former name, Squaw Point Road, in Stockton Springs. Town officials voted in 2007 to drop the word "squaw" in several road and place names and instead honor a Revolutionary War era ship buried in the nearby riverbed. Buy Photo

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. John Baldacci on Monday signed a bill that expands Maine’s prohibition on use of “squaw” in official place names to close what supporters said was a loophole in the law.

The bill, LD 797, would prohibit the use of any derivation of both “squaw” and “squa,” either as a separate word or within another word or phrase. Many American Indians regard squaw as a derogatory term for women.

The legislation, which takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns, is largely aimed at addressing a long-running dispute between a homeowners’ association and town officials in Stockton Springs.

Members of the association objected to Stockton Springs’ Board of Selectmen voting more than a year and a half ago to substitute the word “Defence” for all names on a peninsula formerly known as Squaw Point. The Defence was a privateer ship that was scuttled in the Penobscot River near Stockton Springs during the Revolutionary War.

The members responded by renaming their group the “Squapoint Association” and requesting that the town rename Defence Road as Squall Point Road. When the board rejected the request, the association submitted a petition that would block town officials from preventing the use of names on private roads as long as the name is consistent with state law.

Dan Coulters, a Squapoint Association member, said voters will get a chance to weigh in on the group’s petition on June 20. Coulters is also running for selectman this month.

But even if the petition passes, the group will rename their private road Squall Point Road, not Squaw Point Road, he said.

“We are very content to have it named Squall Point,” he said. “It symbolizes the area we live in.”

Rep. Wayne Mitchell of the Penobscot Nation, who was the lead sponsor of LD 797, accused the leadership of the homeowners’ association of only being interested in finding a legal loophole within the 2000 law or circumnavigating it.

“This fully implements the law,” Mitchell said after the bill signing.

Baldacci said the change is consistent with Maine’s reputation as a welcoming state.

“Maine people have time and time again supported tolerance and respect for others,” the governor said in a statement. “Every Maine person and every Maine community deserves to be treated with dignity.”

The bill had the support of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission, the Maine Human Rights Commission and various civic and religious organizations.

During a legislative committee’s work on the bill, several committee members raised concerns about the measure inadvertently prohibiting the use of inoffensive words that begin with “squa,” such as square. The final bill was amended to state that it would prohibit the use of “squa” as a separate word “or as a separate syllable in a word.”

That could seemingly apply to several Aroostook places or geologic features that bear the name “Squapan.” But Mitchell explained that the native pronunciation of the word is monosyllabic and that the bill is not meant to address those places.

Neither the original law nor Mitchell’s bill can force private business owners who do not regard the historic use of the word “squaw” as offensive or derogatory to change the names of their establishments. One example is Big Squaw Mountain Resort, located on what is officially known as Big Moose Mountain near Greenville.

Not registered? Click here
E-mail this
Print this
Guidelines for posting on bangordailynews.com

Bangordailynews.com is pleased to offer a forum for readers to react to our stories, discuss them and provide additional information. We are reluctant to delete comments, but do reserve that right for those who abuse our forum. For more on using this site, please see our terms of service.

The primary rule here is pretty simple: Treat others with the same respect you'd want for yourself. What does that mean specifically? Here are some guidelines (see more):

Comments
49 comments on this item
On 6/8/09 at 10:31 PM, Mainelyme wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Good

Can John name either the month of July or August as Native American History Month?

Thank you, John

Perley

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 2:32 AM, bxr3main wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

squa....re. square....squa.....sh...squash.....squa....t....squat....squa...nder....squander.... Holy cow sesame street outsmarted maine law.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 5:25 AM, leumas wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I think the governor and his legislator friends have caught "brain worm" from eating too many moose oysters. What a waste of ink and effort.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 5:55 AM, downbeat wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

WASTE OF TIME!!!!!

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 5:59 AM, hankwilliams wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Love the photo caption. "Stocking" Springs?

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 6:04 AM, SunandClouds wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I'm glad there is nothing important to do in this state for a few people and the state's government body.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 6:06 AM, howbri wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Our fearless legislators once again saving us from the evil word Squaw! Way to go guys. You have made the world right. There is nothing left to do so take the rest of the year off. Good Job!! You have earned your pay!!

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 6:23 AM, Beemaridah wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

great example of why the states, and the USA are in such dire straights! the morons that are elected into positions in our guvmint can't stand up and take care of the real problems - they just "make work" with cacamamie projects like this.

how's that "change you can believe in" working for ya?

we should have an appropriation for a lot of fiddles, so they can play as everything burns.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 6:35 AM, Scintillate wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Fine stop calling me white then, I'm light beige. You know being called white, pale face, etc is defaming.

Perhaps it would be best to change all towns, streets, counties, and river names to something else. Like Penobscot River to Caucasion River and county.

By doing this it will put a stop to wasting tax payers money and any percieved insults and keep the peace.

bxr3main, thats very good now it will swuare, swuash, swander.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 6:50 AM, seeult wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Good job boys good job.Now that we,ve got the the really important stuff out of the way give yourselves a raise and take the summer off.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 7:01 AM, RussHermon wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Its time to abolish all reservations. Its time to end special treatment for native americans. They're no better or worse than the rest of us. I for one am sick of this state pandering to two tribes of indians that were nothing but fishermen when the white man arrived on this new world. To listen to them they were Apache warriors. All the special perks they get, are for what???? Remember the old saying..." to the victors..go the spoils of war" . GET OVER IT

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 7:42 AM, NochigahnehAlnabeh wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

BLAH,BLAH, BLAH. IF THE MAJORITY OF WRITERS HERE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH USING A WOMAN'S PRIVATE PARTS AS A NAME, GOOD, CALL YOUR NEXT DAUGHTER AS SUCH.

THE STATE DID THE RIGHT THING.

UNFORTUNATELY, IGNORANCE IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL IN THE STATE OF MAINE.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 7:51 AM, eastmainer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I think that it's most likely all the Indian names of mountains, rivers , towns etc. were named BY the Indians in the first place. There is so much more important things to worry about !!! Stop making mountains out of molehills people. It really doesn't matter. All of us older people will still call Big Moose Mt. Squaw Mt.. because that's what we've always called it.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 7:52 AM, outdoorman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I agree with RussHermon. The sooner we end the system of annual funds dedicated to Natives (this also includes many who are not 100% native) the sooner the future genrations of natives will not be living a "You owe me" attitude. Time for them all to go with the flow like the rest of us. The funds they receive are a constant reminder of lands and tradition lost and still today creates friction among some natives towards whites. Time to stop dwelling on the past, ignoring the present and worrying about the future. Be happy, get a job, help others, no more handouts.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 8:10 AM, ydnar723 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Next Gov that gets voted in I hope overturns half this BS and waste of time John Boy is putting in.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 8:19 AM, DaddyBiggs wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Anyone offended by ANYTHING, please line up at the State House door. Whare does it end? Ridiculous!

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 8:42 AM, berquis wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I am a firm believer in human rights etc. and not hurting people's feelings blah blah blah but this is about as dumb as it gets. It goes back to the "nation" making Old Town High School change from the Indians to the Cyotes... The reason they were the Indians was to show pride for the 'island' now they show pride for being a wild dog. Too many things get taken too far and out of context. A girl can call another girl a B---, but if a man does WATCH OUT. An idian woman can call an indian woman a SQ---- but if a 'white' person does WATCH OUT. Same with a few other words out there.... People just need to get over themselves and stop having EVERY word, color, sideways glance etc. be some GREAT PERSONAL ATTACK.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 9:21 AM, crabman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The name of Pleasant Point's little league team is named, the Indians. They have a road called Indian Way. And back when Gate Fiber Extrusion was operating they ran employment adds that stated that Native Americans were preferred. Is there a bias here? At the same time the Governor is not very favored by the Native American's due to Casino and LNG issues so I hope he does not think this will clear up everything....

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 9:28 AM, fmrmti wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I think changing the names of the school teams is silly and just for political angle. But this, folks, is a real slur. Now, can we pick some better names, tho?

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 9:50 AM, pcme2000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

people have way to much time on thier hands to worry about such crap.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 10:00 AM, DrChuck wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Wasting more of my money.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 10:08 AM, unlistedid wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

FREEDOM OF SPEECH... UNLESS IT OFFENDS SOMEONE....UMMMMMMMMM

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 11:13 AM, WRofGlenburn wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I guess that nochigahnehAlnabeh fancies himself as a an expert on native American written languages. I was always under the impression that Sq..w was the equivalent of Wife or woman. Thanks for giving this naive white (paleface) the true meaning. I would guess that this word is not Indian but English since there is no way an honorable native American could ever refer to one of his own as a Sq..w. Anyway , this legislation should should settle the matter once and for all and make happy braves of all those hypersensitive individuals that wish to make mountains out of molehills.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 11:15 AM, Yvonne wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Talk about entitlement issues, I sense by a lot of peoples comments here that they think it's okay to appropriate others peoples' identities and cultures and then make light of them, but oh well so goes cultural ignorance!

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 11:26 AM, _Deschain wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

But he won't let them have a casino?

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 11:30 AM, berquis wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I'm gonna get in sooo much trouble for this...

Don't you think that "entitlement" has gone quite far in this country, in a lot of ways? Why is it that after hundreds of years I (the "white *wo*man) am still held responsible for treating the indians poorly when the Spanish, English, etc. came to this land? I didn't ask to come here, I didn't have a choice. Why am I not being paid some sort of restitution for being kidnapped and dragged here. Before you say it's not the same, think about it. Has any "white man" that you have ever met "stole land from Indians"??? Are we still cleaning up after it all??? Yup.

I don't mean any disrespect to those of Indian heritage, really. I DO mean to disrespect the situation, because it's gone past CRAZINESS.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 12:43 PM, michaudde7 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I agree with berquis.....we're not paying the english because they lost the war. You lost....get over it.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 1:05 PM, cowans wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

How the hell this clown got two terms is beyond me!!!

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 1:23 PM, srtmedic wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

i wonder how much tax payers money was wasted on this. the next thing you know, that the state government will not allow any of the names geographic or not be named after the many indian tribes that had this land before we took it from them. that a hella lot of renaming.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 1:33 PM, 1stn8ion wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 6/9/09 at 1:52 PM, berquis wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

We are all AMERICANS, native-AMERICANS, african-AMERICANS, hispanic-AMERICANS...etc. We are all in it together in 2009... and you are right 1stn8ion, they did sign treaties, and gay marriage is wrong, slavery is right, women shouldn't vote...UM what other STUPID things did our forefathers do???

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 1:57 PM, Felix14 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I'm not going to argue the point of whether or not "squaw" or "squa" should be used in place names and such. My question is - with all of the other issues that are much more important facing our state (such as the budget shortfall) - why are officials concerened about this issue now? I think they need to get their priorities straight. Should it be addressed? Yes. But why is it so high on their priority list in the times we're living in now?

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 2:33 PM, bendover wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

How about we give them each one bottle of fire water if they let us use squaw

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 3:10 PM, mooseME wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I wish the government would stop their squawking and find something else to do with their time. Freedom of speech? What's that?

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 4:49 PM, limlib wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The State has a wampum deficit, and we are spending time on this ?

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 6:00 PM, Ladyslipper wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Since when has Squaw been considered a put-down? Isn't it the equivalent of she or woman? If Native Americans are not upset by the use of the word..then why should it be a big issue?

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 6:07 PM, bosox21fan wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Our tax dollars hard at work.......what a joke!

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 7:42 PM, Bhall44 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Following this logic I guess the National Park Service should have to change the name of Grand Teton National Park since that translates politely to breast in French.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 7:50 PM, GurnBlanston wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It wasn't until the 1970's that some idiot construed squaw to connote genitalia. To use it in a derogatory manner is rather dated. Is it derogatory to call me a black man? An Irish woman? Perhaps years ago when it was used to talk down to a group or ethnicity, but would you be offended by either of those today? Please get over this PC crap. Regardless of what that chick (woman) said on Oprah, squaw was NOT the Algonquin word for vagina. As for this issue, these are place names and reminders of the Native Americans who lived here before everyone else came. Is this supposed to distract us from Augusta's "no casinos" policy?

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 8:03 PM, maineworkr wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Try this link, I wasnt expecting what it said, if this is true, its harmless. It was just a mispronunciation from the long ago people.

http://www.native-languages.org/iaq5.htm

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 8:04 PM, HippyKicker wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

So what about Squapan Lake? Is that in violation? Square Lake is up here too... Both names include the makings of an offensive word... apparently... Baldacci doesn't know squat.

Report abuse
On 6/9/09 at 8:06 PM, maineworkr wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Squaw , the article says, is NOT of the indian language.

Report abuse
On 6/10/09 at 2:46 AM, JJHampden wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"One example is Big Squaw Mountain Resort, located on what is officially known as Big Moose Mountain near Greenville."

That would be Big Squaw Mountain in Big Squaw Township which is just North of Little Squaw Mountain in Little Squaw Township and East of Squaretown Township and Westerly across the lake from Beaver Cove Plantation. Now all of these are North of Bald Mountain Township which I'm sure the governor will be targeting next on the insulting names list?

.

This is all just a distraction from Real state business.

Smoke & Mirrors as Maine goes Bankrupt !

.

Hey how 'bout the spelling, "Skwaw" ?

.

Report abuse
On 6/10/09 at 9:13 AM, mousehunt wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Well I getting older and my feelings are being hurt like when I see the name old county road and that is a insult to old people every where. Take { old } off any names please. Time for a change.

Report abuse
On 6/10/09 at 11:46 AM, berquis wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Sorry mousehunt... we didn't "sign a treaty" for old people. :)

Report abuse
On 6/10/09 at 11:58 AM, Mainelyme wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 6/10/09 at 1:31 PM, donnelly wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

ridiculous waste of time

Report abuse
On 6/10/09 at 9:43 PM, maliseet wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I have never posted on here before but I feel strongly about this subject. The word Squaw as in squaw pan lake I dont find offensive. Being called a squaw is offensive. Yeah I agree with some of the other comments on how natives do have the "owe me" attidtude. But so dont non-natives. I live across the street from a non native "house" the welfare this family gets is unbelievable!!! This family gets state nurses to babysit, the kids are picked up for speech therapy, cuz they wont spend the extra gas.The list goes on and on. I think the whole system needs to be cleaned out. Home visits to see where the state welfare is going. I think the gov needs to be working on more important things. And I am a Native!

Report abuse
On 6/10/09 at 10:14 PM, jjs1975 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

if the hairless community gets wind of this foolishness, the gov. will be forced to change his name!!! We cant have the word BALD in a name!!! That is offensive!! I am so happy this is how our tax dollars are being spent. I have lived in Stockton Springs all of my life, and I will continue to call it by its name!!!

Report abuse
You must be logged in to post a comment. click here to log in.

Powered by: Creative Circle Advertising Solutions, Inc.