Good afternoon,
Recently, an executive order was signed by Deb Haaland describing the new work being done to address derogatory names of geographic features across the US.
| Secretary Haaland Takes Action to Remove Derogatory Names from Federal Lands | U.S. Department of the Interior – doi.govDate: Friday, November 19, 2021 Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov WASHINGTON — Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today formally established a process to review and replace derogatory names of the nation’s geographic features.She also declared “squaw” to be a derogatory term and ordered the Board on Geographic Names – the federal body tasked with naming geographic places – to …www.doi.gov |
A task force was established under the lead of the USGS National Geospatial Program to develop a procedure to address the first round of changes.
The following notices were posted to the Federal Register:
Federal Register :: Reconciliation of Derogatory Geographic Names
This public comment period closes April 25
Federal Register :: Reconciliation of Derogatory Geographic Names Tribal Consultation
 | Federal Register :: Reconciliation of Derogatory Geographic Names Tribal ConsultationThe U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) will conduct Tribal Consultation sessions to obtain oral and written comments on candidate replacement names for geographic feature names recently declared derogatory by DOI Secretary’s Order 3404 (S.O. 3404). These sessions will be held virtually.www.federalregister.gov |
The task force is holding 3 tribal consultations regarding the effort and the geographically proximity based proposed names for geographic features with ‘sq***’ in the name. The webinars will be held on March 21, 22, and 23, and the registration link can be found at the tribal federal register notice above. The tribal public comment period closes May 25.
Candidate names (5 closest proximity geographic features) can be found here:
SO3404 Candidate_Names.xlsx (live.com)
A web map showing the locations of the places associated with these names is at this link: https://dwr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=68609047879c4708ad6ccfe6ab117ef4
The task force welcomes input from the public, and names coming in from local communities, tribes, land managers and so forth will receive priority over the geographically selected replacement options.
A group of us are helping to spread the word about this important effort, so please contact any of us if you have questions:
Jane Schafer-Kramer, jane.schafer-kramer@water.ca.gov
Dr. Donna Begay, donnabegay@yahoo.com
Tiffany Meyer, Chair CABGN, tiffany.meyer@fire.ca.gov
Drew Decker, ddecker@usgs.gov
Thank you,
Carol
Carol Ostergren
US Geological Survey National Geospatial Program
2885 Mission Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
costergren@usgs.gov (please use email for contact during shelter in place, or call via teams)