Montana Geographic Names Advisor
Geographic Name Change Request
Change Squaw Creek to Sih-mem Creek
Cascade County, Montana
Status =
Approved
| Description |
stream,
1 km (0.6 mi) long,
heads in the Lewis and Clark National Forest, 34 km (21 mi) NE of Long Mountain, at 46o58’56”N, 110o41’54”W, flows SW into Carpenter Creek; the word Sihmem is of Salish origin meaning “woman” |
| Location |
46°58’26”N, 110°42’04”W |
| PLSS Location |
Sec 15, T14N, R8E |
| Proposal |
to change a name considered by some to be derogatory |
| Proponent |
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes; Pablo, MT |
| Not |
Squaw Creek |
| Administrative area |
Lewis and Clark National Forest |
| Previous BGN Action |
None |
| See also |
|
| GNIS ID |
791372
|
| Local Usage |
None found
|
| Published |
Squaw Creek (USGS 1961, 1995; SummitPost website)
|
|
me Squaw Creek applies to a 1 km (0.6 mi) long stream located in the Little Belt Mountains of southeastern Cascade County, and within the Lewis and Clark National Forest. The origin of the stream’s current name has not been determined; the earliest map on which it has been located is the USGS topographic map published in 1961. The proposed replacement name, Sih-mem Creek, is of Salish origin and according to the proponent means “woman.” 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. However, the Cascade County Commissioners 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. The U.S. Forest Service has no opinion, since the stream flows through a private in-holding within Forest boundaries.
|
| 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
|
