Local Native residents and concerned community members have created a petition to remove and replace the derogatory term “squaw” from the names of local streets, parks, and waterways in Fox Chapel Borough and the Township of O’Hara in Pittsburgh, including Squaw Valley Park, Squaw Run, Old Squaw Trail/Park, Squaw Run Road, and Squaw Run Road East.
The word squaw is an ethnic and sexual slur, historically and contemporarily used for Indigenous North American women. It is considered offensive, misogynist and racist. Squaw was the bastardization of an Algonquin word for women, by white settlers, and has since been used to disparage indigenous women for centuries. “It’s akin to the ‘C’ word,” said Benita Moore, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and founder of Native Daily Network.
In the News:
- Post-Gazette: What’s in a name? Fox Chapel residents petition to change offensive local names
- Tribune Review: Petition drive calls for dropping derogatory ‘squaw’ from Fox Chapel, O’Hara Park, roads
- Fox Chapel committee to examine removing word ‘Squaw’ from street, trail names
FCA Social Justice 