Tribal
leaders insist on name of Piestewa Peak
Pamela G. Dempsey
Diné Bureau
PHOENIX, Ariz. — For many tribal leaders, the renaming
of Squaw Peak to Piestewa Peak is a done deal.
However, in light of a new bill that could reverse the name
change, tribal leaders at the Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative
Day encouraged legislators to keep it as is.
Squaw Peak's name was changed in honor of the late Pfc. Lori
Piestewa, believed to be the first American Indian woman to
die in combat. Opponents charge that Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano
rushed the name change through the Arizona State Board on Geographic
and Historic Names as a political maneuver instead of waiting
five years, as required by national guidelines on the name change
after someone's death.
Equal to its criticism, though, is its support.
"We celebrated the name change," said Nora McDowell,
president, Intertribal Council of Arizona to the House. "We're
continuing the challenge ... the option is Piestewa Peak changed
back to its former name I'm not going to say it, it's a very
offensive term which is derogatory and racist. To us, Lori Piestewa
represents all American Indians who died for our country."
State Rep. Phil Hanson, backed by most of the House Republicans,
introduced a bill to move the responsible party, the Arizona
State Board on Geographic and Historic Names, from the Governor's
Office to the House of Representatives and appoint new members
who could change the name back.
"I believe the change of Piestewa Peak back to Squaw Peak
greatly undermines the government-to-government relations,"
said Hopi Tribal Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr., who called it a
step backward.
To counteract Hanson's legislation, Rep. Jack Jackson Jr. reintroduced
a bill to prohibit the use of "squaw" in geographical
areas such as "landmarks, historical sites, parks, recreation
areas, streets, highways or other publicly funded facilities".
"Native Americans throughout the state of Arizona felt
very proud to change Squaw Peak to Piestewa Peak," said
Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. "I want to persuade
the leadership of our legislature to keep the name Piestewa
Peak ... it stands for something."
