Montana Geographic Names Advisor
Geographic Name Change Request
Change Squaw Creek to Sin-tin-tin-em-ska Creek
Missoula County, Montana
Status =
Approved
| Description |
stream,
15 km (9.3 mi) long,
heads at 46°38’14”N, 114°03’20”W, flows N to enter the Bitterroot River, 12 km (7.4 mi) NE of Florence, 2.7 km (1.7 mi) SE of Lolo; the word Sin-tintin- em-ska is the traditional Salish-Pend d’Oreille name for the area and means “Where you rein your horse back” |
| Location |
46°44’07”N, 114°03’48”W |
| PLSS Location |
T11N, R20W |
| Proposal |
to change a name considered by some to be derogatory |
| Proponent |
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes; Pablo, MT |
| Not |
Squaw Creek |
| Administrative area |
None |
| Previous BGN Action |
None |
| See also |
|
| GNIS ID |
791370
|
| Local Usage |
None found
|
| Published |
Squaw Creek (USGS 1967, 1979; SummitPost website)
|
|
rrent name Squaw Creek applies to a 15 km (9.3 mi) long tributary of the Bitterroot River. The origin of the stream’s name has not been determined; the earliest map on which the name has been located is the USGS topographic map published in 1967. The proposed replacement name, Sin-tin-tin-em-ska Creek, is the Anglicization of the “old Salish placename for the area where this creek flows and means reining-back-your-horse.” The proponent adds “the name’s origin reaches back to the time when the Salish people, based in the Bitterroot Valley, would conduct buffalo hunts or raids east of the mountains. During their return journey, the people would reach this area and their horses would know they were almost home – and so they would start straining against the reins.” This proposed change has the support of the Montana House Bill 412 “Squaw Name Change” Advisory Committee and the American Indian Caucus of the Montana State Legislature. Both the Ravalli County Commissioners and the Missoula County Commissioners responded that they do not endorse the change; this information was provided by the State Names Authority, but no details were included. The State Names Authority supports the proposal.
|
| Montana Geographic Names Advisor Recommendation -
Support
(Tuesday, December 9, 2008)
|
| Domestic Names Committee Decision Date -
Thursday, December 11, 2008 |
Domestic Names Committee Discussion -
A motion was made and seconded to approve these three name changes.
Vote: 12 in favor
0 against
0 abstentions
|
