GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Montana Geographic Names Advisor

Geographic Name Change Request

Change Squaw Creek to Girl Creek
Yellowstone County, Montana

Status = Approved

Description stream, 11 km (6.8 mi) long, heads at 45°49’26”N, 108°11’11”W, flows NW into Pryor Creek, 2.4 km (1.5 mi) SE of Huntley; the name is a translation of Biakaataashkaatash, the traditional Crow Indian name for feature
Location 45°52’27”N, 108°17’44”W
PLSS Location Secs 31&32,T2N,R28E and Secs 3-6,10,11,13&24,T1N,
Proposal to change a name considered by some to be derogatory
Proponent Sharon Peregoy; Crow Agency, MT
Not Biakaataashkaatash, Squaw Creek
Administrative area None
Previous BGN Action None
See also
GNIS ID 777124
Local Usage None found
Published Squaw Creek (USGS 1967; Yellowstone County map 1973)
This is the second proposal submitted to the Montana HB 412 Advisory Committee by a member of the Crow Tribe, to change a name considered to be derogatory. The 11 km (6.8 mi) long stream that is named currently Squaw Creek flows northwest through Yellowstone County into Pryor Creek; the mouth of the stream lies approximately 2.4 km (1.5 mi) southeast of the community of Huntley. The proposed name, Girl Creek, is the translation of Biakaataashkaatash, the name traditionally used by the Apsáalooke (Crow Indians) for this feature. The name Squaw Creek first appeared on U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps in 1967, and was also applied to the 1973 Yellowstone County highway map.

The Commissioners of Yellowstone County recommend approval of the proposed change. No other geographic features in the County include the word “Girl” in their names. The Legislative Branch of the Crow Tribe of Montana, which is Federally-recognized, has stated that it “strongly supports” the change to Girl Creek, and the Montana Board on Geographic Names also wrote a letter in support of the proposal. A letter seeking input was sent to the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council, which is also Federally-recognized, but no response was received, which is presumed to indicate a lack of an opinion on the issue. The Montana HB 412 Committee supports this proposal.

Montana Geographic Names Advisor Recommendation - Support
Domestic Names Committee Decision Date - Thursday, January 8, 2004
Domestic Names Committee Discussion - This proposal, also submitted by the Montana House Bill 412 Advisory Committee on behalf of a resident of Crow Agency, is to change a name believed to be derogatory. The proposed new name is the translation of Biakaataashkaatash, the name traditionally used by the Crow Indians for this feature (see Attachment A, #2). A motion was made and seconded to approve the change.

Vote: 8 in favor
0 against
0 abstentions

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