Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Will Newsom Sign Law Requiring Squaw Valley Name Change?
Liz-Juarez
By Liz Juarez
Published 2 years ago on
August 31, 2022

Share

 

Gov. Gavin Newsom will now decide whether Squaw Valley in the foothills of eastern Fresno County will be renamed.

Members of some indigenous tribes say that “squaw” is derogatory, but other residents counter that they like the name and don’t want it changed.

The decision is in Newsom’s hands because Assembly Bill 2022 passed in the Assembly and in the Senate last week. The bill requires that “squaw” be removed as a place name in California.

Roman Rain Tree, who identifies as Choinumni and is also a member of the neighboring Dunlap Band of Mono Indians, started a petition on Change.org to change the name in 2020 to “Nuum Valley.”

But many Squaw Valley residents, including Rain Tree, prefer a change to “Yokuts Valley.”

“I am hopeful that Gov. Newsom will sign AB 2022 into law. It passed unanimously in both houses,” said Rain Tree. “My personal belief is that if ‘Yokuts Valley’ is selected as the new name, every tribe and tribal member would regard the new name of ‘Yokuts Valley’ as a great honor to each respective tribe indigenous to the area and collectively as Yokuts people.”

Who’s Behind the Bill?

In November 2021, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland formally declared “squaw” a derogatory term. Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and a 35th generation New Mexican, is the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary.

Through a secretarial order, Haaland put together a federal task force to find replacement names for all valleys, lakes, creeks, and other sites on federal land bearing the name.

Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-Highland), the first California Native American elected to the state Legislature, and Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, introduced the bill earlier this year.

 

When Would The Name Change Happen?

If the bill is signed into law, starting Jan. 1, 2025, the term “squaw” would have to be removed from all geographic features and place names in the state.

If a local governing body fails to pick a replacement name within 180 days, the Natural Resources Agency would then require the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names to consult with government agencies and advisory boards in replacing the name.

The bill would also require the committee to work with California Native American tribes on a list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission to establish a procedure for receiving name recommendations.

Many Fresno County Tribes Remain Unrecognized by the U.S. Government

In Fresno County, there are many indigenous tribes but not all are federally recognized, said Rain Tree.

Rain Tree is working on a documentary to raise awareness of the struggles many tribes face by not being formally recognized as federally Acknowledged Native Americans.

“All year tribes have begun to mobilize to let their voices be heard about the continued lack of tribal acknowledgment,” said Rain Tree.

In the U.S., 25% of all active pending federal petitions for acknowledgment are in California. Fresno, Monterey, and Los Angeles counties make up nearly one-third of those petitions.

A tribal map of the Squaw Valley area before white settlers occupied the land. The four indigenous tribes are the Dunlap Band of Mono (Composed of Wobonuch and Entimbich), Choinumni, Wukchumni, and Wuksachi. (GV Wire Composite/ Paul Marshall)

What Does a Name Change Entail for Squaw Valley?

In a Facebook Live video on Aug. 25, Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig addressed the legislative bill, criticizing state officials for making decisions that should be left to the local community.

“At the end of the day, all it means is our freedoms are taken away. Again my official position on Squaw Valley is while I’m not for or against the name change, the process needs to be driven at the local level by the people who have grown up there, by the people who have businesses there,” said Magsig.

In particular, Magsig was concerned with what a name change would mean to the residents and business owners in Squaw Valley.

“I think about individuals who have passports, your passports will have to be changed, your mailing addresses are going to have to be changed,” said Magsig. “Many people have signage over their businesses they have out there, all the signage is going to have to be changed at some point.”

Magsig advised residents who do not agree with the name change to write or call the governor’s office.

Ahead of the game, Rain Tree re-submitted his petition for a name change earlier this year that was amended and approved to “Yokuts Valley” as the proposed name change.

Since the news, Rain Tree has also written a letter to Assemblymembers Ramos and Garcia, and another to the governor urging them to sign the bill.

DON'T MISS

Waymo’s Robotaxis Now Open to Anyone Who Wants a Driverless Ride in Los Angeles

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

DON'T MISS

Trump Nominates Fox News Host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary

DON'T MISS

Economists Warn of Inflation and Debt Risks in Trump’s Second Term Plans

DON'T MISS

How Many Smoke Shops Is Too Many? Fresno Plan Would Allow Only 49

DON'T MISS

US Says It Will Not Limit Israel Arms Transfers After Some Improvements in Flow of Aid to Gaza

DON'T MISS

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

DON'T MISS

Tulare Gang Member Gets Life Without Parole for 2022 Murders

DON'T MISS

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

DON'T MISS

Gov. Newsom Said No, but California Voters Overwhelmingly Said Yes

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

UP NEXT

Trump Nominates Fox News Host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary

UP NEXT

Economists Warn of Inflation and Debt Risks in Trump’s Second Term Plans

UP NEXT

How Many Smoke Shops Is Too Many? Fresno Plan Would Allow Only 49

UP NEXT

US Says It Will Not Limit Israel Arms Transfers After Some Improvements in Flow of Aid to Gaza

UP NEXT

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

UP NEXT

Tulare Gang Member Gets Life Without Parole for 2022 Murders

UP NEXT

Gov. Newsom Said No, but California Voters Overwhelmingly Said Yes

UP NEXT

Mike Tyson-Jake Paul: How to Watch the Fight, Time, Odds

UP NEXT

Travel in the West Bank Is a Tale of Two Journeys

Economists Warn of Inflation and Debt Risks in Trump’s Second Term Plans

25 mins ago

How Many Smoke Shops Is Too Many? Fresno Plan Would Allow Only 49

37 mins ago

US Says It Will Not Limit Israel Arms Transfers After Some Improvements in Flow of Aid to Gaza

44 mins ago

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

2 hours ago

Tulare Gang Member Gets Life Without Parole for 2022 Murders

3 hours ago

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

3 hours ago

Gov. Newsom Said No, but California Voters Overwhelmingly Said Yes

4 hours ago

Mike Tyson-Jake Paul: How to Watch the Fight, Time, Odds

4 hours ago

Travel in the West Bank Is a Tale of Two Journeys

5 hours ago

Chris Wallace Is Leaving CNN, Eager to Explore New Media Landscape

5 hours ago

Waymo’s Robotaxis Now Open to Anyone Who Wants a Driverless Ride in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – Waymo on Tuesday opened its robotaxi service to anyone who wants a ride around Los Angeles, marking another milestone in...

5 mins ago

5 mins ago

Waymo’s Robotaxis Now Open to Anyone Who Wants a Driverless Ride in Los Angeles

A Fresno County man has been indicted on mail fraud charges for allegedly submitting over $300,000 in falsified disability claims using stolen identities. (GV Wire File)
18 mins ago

Fresno County Man Accused of Filing Fake Disability Claims in $300K Fraud Scheme

Pete Hegseth walks to an elevator for a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York, Dec. 15, 2016. (AP File)
22 mins ago

Trump Nominates Fox News Host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary

25 mins ago

Economists Warn of Inflation and Debt Risks in Trump’s Second Term Plans

37 mins ago

How Many Smoke Shops Is Too Many? Fresno Plan Would Allow Only 49

44 mins ago

US Says It Will Not Limit Israel Arms Transfers After Some Improvements in Flow of Aid to Gaza

Photo of David Bernhardt
2 hours ago

Who With Valley Ties Could Land Spots in the Trump Administration?

Nathaniel Lujano, 23, of Tulare, a known gang member was sentenced to life without parole for two 2022 murders, committed to benefit a criminal street gang. (Tulare County DA)
3 hours ago

Tulare Gang Member Gets Life Without Parole for 2022 Murders

Search

Send this to a friend