An open letter to the Wyoming Board on Geographic Names

Submitted by Bob and Linda Graff
Posted 6/8/21

Dear Ms. Messer and distinguished members of the board:

“Squaw Teats” was a name given to a geographic feature over 100 years ago. The issue was brought before the Park County …

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An open letter to the Wyoming Board on Geographic Names

Posted

Dear Ms. Messer and distinguished members of the board:

“Squaw Teats” was a name given to a geographic feature over 100 years ago. The issue was brought before the Park County commissioners, and denied since this relates to the history of Park County and should remain unchanged for that reason. The term “squaw” was a legitimate word for women in the early history of the United States. Social mores have, over time, evolved and determined squaw to be considered a demeaning term. There are many words in the English language suffering the same unfortunate evolution.

Since the given name of “Squaw Teats” is neither vulgar nor lewd, I believe that the feature retain its name.

Considering this matter brings an American tradition of open debate. Renaming this feature, however, would only serve to “kick the door open” to every oversensitive “woke’ individual out there and start a cascade of these kinds of requests.

The Park County commissioners had this right, and I would hope that the Wyoming Board on Geographic Names would honor our history in the context it was created and acceptability at the time.

Please deny this request and press on to more important business. We would certainly entertain any communication from the board that you would deem appropriate.

Kindest regards,

Bob and Linda Graff

Powell

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