After almost a year of disputes regarding what should have been a more dignified change to an insensitive slur, the controversy surrounding Piestewa Peak still surrounds us today. But this time it's in a good way. On Thursday, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board renamed the central mountain park, this time ditching the word "squaw." Ever so ingeniously named, we can now call it the Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area. But you know what? It sounds lovely. It really does.
Although the park is not named after Lori Piestewa, its new name is something worth celebrating.
The board's action comes after months of indecision on the name and after a five-hour hearing on it last week.
This name change hasn't drawn as much attention. It's different from the controversial Squaw/Piestewa Peak change last year.
You remember last year's issue, I'm sure. Army Spc. Lori Piestewa, a Hopi Indian from Tuba City and mother of two, was the first Native American woman to die in combat. Honorable, surely. But, after trying to change the name "squaw" to one offering honor and dignity to fallen soldier Piestewa, there was major resistance. For instance, Gov. Janet Napolitano allegedly suggested that the State Geographic and Historic Names Board chair resign after failing to consider the name change. And soon after, three other board members submitted letters of resignation.
And all of that was over the elimination of a derogatory term. It was also enveloped in a cloud of bickering over something that shouldn't have been an issue at all. Those opposing the change cried out over the motives behind the Piestewa push. Many claimed the renaming was simply an attempt to discard the word "squaw." And, in part, it was. It changed something insulting and replaced it with honor.
Last April when the State Geographic and Historic Names Board approved changing Squaw Peak to Piestewa Peak. What once was an insensitive slur transformed itself into a wonderful tribute to our own Arizona hero.
The renaming of the central mountain park is a refreshing display of how far we've come since then. The word "squaw," an insulting term to Native American women, has no place in our parks or on our maps.
Other names for the park were also suggested including the O'odham "Vainom Do'ag" suggested by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. "Vainom Do'ag" means Iron Mountain. "Piestewa" was also an option. However, the parks board chose to name it something very apolitical -- the Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area. Perhaps that's a good thing. It is much easier to pronounce.
OK, so the name Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.
No longer is it insulting. Replacing such a derogatory term needed to be done. And the fact that it came without so much as a whisper of conflict is incredible. It says so much more about our society than even the Piestewa/Squaw Peak change.
Rosie Cisneros is a journalism sophomore. Reach her at rosie.cisneros@yahoo.com.
