London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

California ski resort changes offensive Native American name

California ski resort changes offensive Native American name

The largest resort in California ski country has changed its name after consulting with local Native American groups.

The 72-year-old Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows - a host site of the 1960s Winter Olympics - announced it will now be known as Palisades Tahoe.

Indigenous North Americans consider the word "squaw" misogynistic and racist toward their women.

The resort said it "could not in good conscience continue to use" the term.

"At the end of the day, "squaw" is a hurtful word, and we are not hurtful people," Palisades president and COO Dee Byrne wrote in an open letter on Sunday.

Ms Byrne indicated signage and merchandise featuring the organisation's old name and logo would be removed by the start of the 2021-2022 ski season.

She acknowledged the rebranding "will take some getting used to", but would better reflect the company's identity and values.

A statement from the resort noted it had conducted extensive historical research and held public consultations, particularly with the local Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.

On Sunday, Washoe Tribal Chairman Serrell Smokey commended the move as "a positive step forward" and "a day that many have worked towards for decades".

Native communities across the US have pushed to remove the derogatory term from geographic locations and place names for years. Seven states have enacted the name change requirement into law.

The word has reportedly been used to demean Native women as immoral sex objects.

In the aftermath of mass protests over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African American man, several localities and institutions have revisited controversial names.

Late last year, a National Football League team and a Major League Baseball team dropped the words "Redskins" and "Indians" respectively from their names.

In California, a state park named Patrick's Point may soon revert to its original tribal name, Sue-meg, after it was revealed its name derived from a homesteader accused of murdering Native women.


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×