"Squaw" on the way out

Pressure for place names to drop 'squaw'Moves to eliminate the term "squaw" from names of geographical sites are accelerating because of protests that the term is offensive.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names has renamed 16 valleys, creeks and other sites so far this year. Pending proposals mean 2008 should see more changes than any year in a decade, the board says.

American Indians consider "squaw" a derogatory term for women, says Jacqueline Johnson of the National Congress of American Indians. Native Americans have pushed states and the federal government to eliminate it.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Nothing Wrong with "Squaw"? and Squelching the S-Word.

Below:  Piestewa Peak in Phoenix.