| Description |
stream,
7.2 km (4.5 mi) long,
in Kootenai National Forest, heads 3.7 km (2.3 mi) S of Brush Mountain at 48º11’23”N, 115º23’04”W, flows SE to enter Fisher River 6.4 km (4 mi) NW of Fritz Mountain; named for Glen Leckrone (1927-1982), who for many years owned a cabin near the mouth of the stream |
| Location |
48º08’42”N, 115º19’29”W |
| PLSS Location |
Secs 33,28,29,20,17,18&34,T28N, R29W |
| Proposal |
to change a name considered by some to be derogatory |
| Proponent |
Thomas Scow; Port Aransas, TX, and Charlene Leckro |
| Not |
Squaw Creek |
| Administrative area |
Kootenai National Forest |
| Previous BGN Action |
None |
| See also |
|
| GNIS ID |
791379
|
| Local Usage |
None found
|
| Published |
Squaw Creek (USGS 1935, 1966, 1978, 1983; USFS 1985; Lincoln County highway map, 1958)
|
This proposal is to change officially the name of Squaw Creek in Lincoln County to Leckrone Creek, to remove a name that is considered by some to be derogatory. It was submitted by the Montana H.B. 412 “Squaw Name Change Committee”, on behalf of the students of Libby High School, as well as a member of the Leckrone family and a resident of Port Aransas, Texas. The name Squaw Creek has appeared on Federal maps since 1935.
The name Leckrone Creek would honor Glen Leckrone (1927-1982), who for many years leased a cabin near the mouth of the stream. He was well known for his love of nature and his extensive knowledge of the area around Squaw Creek. He was a longtime member of the Libby Rod and Gun Club and “spent many years working for the community” and “helping out with almost all community events”. The proposal included letters of support for the change to Leckrone Creek from Montana Governor Marc Racicot, from the Commissioners of Lincoln County, and from the Plum Creek Timber Company which owns much of the land in the valley of Squaw Creek. When asked to comment, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation responded that they were not in support of the proposal, citing “a desire to retain tribal placenames in our aboriginal territory”. The Director of Tribal Preservation indicated the Tribes would be submitting an alternative proposal, but when none was received, the H.B. 412 Committee voted to recommend approval of the change to Leckrone Creek. The BGN staff, citing the comments from the Salish and Kootenai, offered that group another opportunity to comment, but no response was received within the timeframe offered. Letters seeking input were also sent to the Kalispell Business Committee and the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council, both of which are Federally-recognized, but again, no response was received. The Montana Board on Geographic Names, citing a lack of objection from the State’s Trust Land Management Division and the support of the Water Resources Division, has recommended approval of the change. The U.S. Forest Service also supports the proposal.
|
| Montana Geographic Names Advisor Recommendation -
Support
|
| Domestic Names Committee Decision Date -
Wednesday, October 1, 2003 |
Domestic Names Committee Discussion -
This proposal, submitted by the Montana House Bill 412 “Squaw Name Change” Committee, is to change officially the name of a stream in Lincoln County. The existing name is considered by some to be derogatory. The name Leckrone Creek would honor Glen Leckrone (1927-1982), who for many years leased a cabin near the mouth of the stream (see Attachment B, #7). A motion was made and seconded to approve this new name.
Vote: 8 in favor
1 against
0 abstentions
The dissenting vote was cast in the belief that the replacement name should be more appropriate to the original name.
|
