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Native American Heritage Month Highlights the “S” Word
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Each year November is reserved to mark Native American history and culture. To celebrate, Boise State’s Cultural Center held a series of events that were free and open to the public.
According to the United States Census Bureau’s website, acknowledgement of the culture began in 1915.
“American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month originated in 1915 when the president of the Congress of American Indian Associations issued a proclamation declaring the second Saturday in May of each year as American Indian Day.
The first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916 in New York. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating November 1990 as ‘National American Indian Heritage Month.’ Similar proclamations have been issued every year since 1994.”
The website also emphasizes the influence the culture has on society in terms of population, homeownership, language, education business, etc.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Indian Health Service website emphasizes a different aspect of the honorary month.
“National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month is celebrated to recognize the intertribal cultures and to educate the public about the heritage, history, art and traditions of the American Indian and Alaska Native people.”
One societal reaction to the month is the Native American and community desire to make aware the use of the word “squaw” on Idaho landmarks and the movements taking place to get it removed.
“The ‘S’ Word,” presented by the Cultural Center Nov. 16, as part of a series of themed events, emphasized this notion.
A video, “The Historical Impact of the ‘S’ Word: From One Generation to the Next,” was shown at the presentation to display the ways in which the word “squaw” affects different Native American women with respect to their past and future.
The Women of Color Alliance created the video to depict the injustices of women who have to live with this word on Idaho landmarks as a constant reminder of how it affected their lives growing up and what it came to mean to them.
For these Native American women, the word “squaw” is very offensive due to its connotation.
Ro Alvarado Parker, Cultural Center Coordinator, explained her view on the issue.
“Once I learned from Native people that the term “squaw” was a derogative term for the female genitalia, I immediately removed it from my vocabulary and urged those around me to become aware of its meaning. For me to have questioned, that would have been very offensive because they are the ones that have to be at the receiving end of that type of ignorance,” Parker said.
In the video, the “S” word was compared to the “N” word. For these women the two should be treated the same, therefore, not used.
Parker also commented on her view about how society should treat the issue.
“This term must be removed from Idaho landmarks because it sends a message to the Native American communities that we do not believe them when they say this word is offensive. So what if you have grown up thinking “squaw” means Indian woman. It really means something much more offensive. For people to deny that is disrespectful,” Parker said.
Boise State student, Sandra Otero, attended the meeting and expressed her concern.
“Even if something has been a tradition for many years, if it insults an entire culture and it insults women, then it needs to be changed, regardless of the cost, regardless of any inconvenience it may cause,” Otero said.
Native Pauite, Coyote Short, is a geology major at BSU and her concern with the “S” word stems from her constant reminder of it in her studies.
“Mother Earth is not a squaw,” said Short. “I am a geologist. I find geographic names like that very offensive and embarrassing, especially amongst men … I still regard the earth as my mother.”
JOSLYN SALOW
News Writer