PRYOR — Squaw Creek north of Pryor may soon undergo an official name change.
Mayes County commissioners this week approved sending a resolution to change the creek's name to the state Legislature.
Squaw Creek runs under U.S. 69 at a place known to locals as Squaw Holler. A sign by the bridge displays the creek's name.
The Native American Heritage Club at Pryor Junior High School presented the commissioners with a request that the creek's name be changed.
Junior high teacher Sylvia Soap, the club's sponsor, said a “constituent” asked her husband why the name had not been changed. Soap's husband, Chris, is a tribal member on the Cherokee Council for the Mayes County District.
“Honestly, I had never felt it was said to me in an offensive way,” said Syliva Soap, who is an American Indian.
Soap said some people consider the word squaw offensive. She said after researching the word she discovered squaw has Algonquian roots.
The Algonquian word squaw simply means “woman” or “young woman.”
“Even if one person is offended by a sign, it's wrong,” said Soap. “That is on a major highway.”
Jim Boston, another Mayes County resident and former schoolteacher, presented a different idea to commissioners and the heritage club.
“Instead of removing something, let's build up something,” Boston said.
Boston said his dictionary defines squaw as “an American Indian woman, a mother, a female.” Boston said in history, the Indian women raised the children while the men worked to get the food.
“I don't think any of us would want to tear down our mothers,” said Boston. “I don't think I know of a profession more honorable than a mother, a housewife.”
Boston commended the heritage club for their purpose, but he said, “I'd like to challenge you to think about this.”
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