California to Remove Derogatory Term from Over 30 Place Names

Governor Newsom's 2022 law mandates the removal of a racial slur for Native American women from state locations by January 2025.

More than 30 geographic features in California will be renamed to remove the term 'squaw,' considered an offensive slur against Native American women.
The initiative follows Assembly Bill 2022, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, which bans the use of the term in place names.
New names for these locations are being selected in collaboration with California's Native American tribes.
The California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names aims to implement the changes by January 1, 2025.
The U.S. Department of the Interior has also ordered the removal of the term from federal lands, reflecting a broader national effort to address historical injustices.