We have great news! The U.S. Department of Interior has officially removed an offensive slur against Native American women on nearly 650 geographic features like rivers, mountains and canyons. We asked you to take action on this issue in April, and many of you showed up and helped make this change—thank you for all your help in this groundbreaking effort.

Here is a note from Starlyn Miller, our Native Lands Partnership Director, on this momentous news:

“This is a historic first step towards intergenerational healing while making our public lands more inclusive and welcoming for all people. We thank Secretary Deb Haaland for her leadership and efforts to ensure that this offensive term is erased from the names of our cherished public landscapes. As a Native American woman with a daughter and nieces, I am filled with hope for current and future generations by this action.

“Yet, more work lies ahead.

“Offensive and derogatory place names continue to dot our maps and blemish our trailhead signs. There is no room for any offensive, racist or derogatory place names on public lands. We look forward to the work of the recently appointed advisory committee to facilitate additional name changes of rivers and mountains that don’t reflect today’s values in order to ensure that our public lands celebrate and represent the diversity of our country.”

What’s next?

Alongside the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, we produced A Guide to Changing Racist and Offensive Place Names in the United States. This free resource aims to make it easier for First Nations, grassroots organizations and local leaders to change racist or offensive place names nearest their communities. Thank you for being such an important part of The Wilderness Society!

Sincerely,