Montana Geographic Names Advisor
Geographic Name Change Request
Change Squaw Teat to Aspen Hill
Meagher County, Montana
Status =
Denied
| Description |
pillar,
elevation 2,079 m (6,821 ft),
located 16 km (10 mi) SSE of Adel, 63 km (39 mi) N of Townsend and Canyon Ferry Dam, 69 km (43 mi) SW of Great Falls; the name reflects the existence of aspen trees in the area |
| Location |
46°53’56”N, 111°31’43”W |
| PLSS Location |
Secs 6&7, T13N, R2E Meridian |
| Proposal |
to change a name considered by some to be derogatory |
| Proponent |
Meagher County Commission |
| Not |
Squaw Teat |
| Administrative area |
None |
| Previous BGN Action |
None |
| See also |
39610 |
| GNIS ID |
791398
|
| Local Usage |
None found
|
| Published |
Squaw Teat (USGS 1962, 1991; SummitPost website)
|
The name Squaw Teat applies currently to a 2,079 m (6,821 ft) pillar located 16 km (10 mi) southsoutheast of Adel in northwest Meagher County. The origin of the pillar’s current name has not been determined; the earliest map on which the name appears is the USGS topographic map published in 1962. The first proposal, to change the name to Mil-mil-teh Hill, was submitted by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes; the name is the Anglicization of the Salish and Pend d’Oreille word meaning quaking aspen tree.
Although the Montana House Bill 412 “Squaw Name Change” Advisory Committee and the American Indian Caucus of the Montana State Legislature support the change to Mil-mil-teh Hill, the Meagher County Commissioners do not, believing the Salish name would be too difficult to pronounce and remember. The County submitted the counter-proposal for Aspen Hill. The Montana State Names Authority recommends approval of Mil-mil-teh Hill. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the Chair of the House Bill 412 Committee have been advised of the counter-proposal, but declined to offer any further comment.
|
| Montana Geographic Names Advisor Recommendation -
Oppose
(Thursday, February 21, 2008)
|
| Domestic Names Committee Decision Date -
Thursday, May 8, 2008 |
Domestic Names Committee Discussion -
A motion was made and seconded to approve the change to Mil-mil-teh Hill.
Vote: 11 in favor
1 against
0 abstentions
The one dissenting vote cited the County’s lack of support for the indigenous name.
|
