The Washington State Committee on Geographic Names is soliciting public input regarding the U.S. Department of the Interior’s recent proposal to rename 18 geographic features in the state that currently have derogatory names referring to indigenous women.

 

At the end of February, the Department of the Interior opened a 60-day public comment period regarding its proposal, which closes April 25. To respond to Interior’s proposal, the Committee convened a special meeting March 7. At that meeting, the Committee resolved to file a letter of comment with the Department of the Interior. After briefing the Board of Natural Resources, acting as the Washington State Board on Geographic Names, at its April 5 meeting, the Committee intends to meet April 7 in a second special meeting to finalize those comments.

 

The 18 features, each bearing a derogatory term for Native American women, are spread across 14 counties statewide: Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Garfield, Jefferson, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Pierce, Skamania, and Stevens.

 

Feedback can be provided to the Committee via email at bogn@dnr.wa.gov or at the April 7 special committee meeting. More details and information, including a list of features sorted by county, can be found on the Board of Natural Resources page under the About tab on the DNR website. Information on the policies and procedures of the committee can be found in the same location.

 

The committee, which meets twice annually, assists the Board of Natural Resources in approving official names for Washington state’s geographic features. It is made up of a representative of Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, a representative of the State Librarian, the director of the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, a representative of Washington state tribes, and three members of the public.

 

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Communications Manager

360-902-1000