The creek that's losing its name

???? Creek, Sisters, Oregon.

When Oregon Senate Bill 488 became law, a significant local geographic entity was left without a name.

Well, not exactly; but the name of Squaw Creek is on its way out -- along with those of any other geographic sites with "squaw" in the name.

In fact, according to information prepared by the Legislative Fiscal Office, there are approximately 175 Oregon geographic features that include the term "squaw." The bill does not affect non-public uses of the name; for example, a business name would not be affected.

The force behind the change is recognition of the fact that many Native Americans consider "squaw" to be a derogatory or disparaging term for native women.

The bill's original timetable called for squaw names to be tossed out by January 2 of next year. The final version, however, left a little more time for transition; and squaw names may continue to exist until 2005 or two years after federal agencies discontinue use of the names.

At present, no agencies have taken a formal position on a new name for Squaw Creek. Martin Winch, however, is a volunteer for the Deschutes Basin Land Trust who is interested in bringing the issue to the public's attention.

"I wanted to refer to the creek in the work that I do," he said, "and there was a moving target as to what name to use."

Winch isn't advocating any particular name, but he sees it as an issue of potential interest to people in the area. One local stream advocate suggests that the congressionally designated "Wild and Scenic River" be renamed the Sahaptin River. "Sahaptin" is a native language reference to the Warm Springs Tribe, the largest tribe on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.

Winch says that the name of Squaw Creek can be traced back to the memoirs of Newt Cobb from the 1870s. According to Cobb's account, a group of native women were observed rounding up horses at the creek, and the incident became a reference to the stream from that time on.

Lewis McArthur's "Oregon Geographic Names" says that Lieutenant R. S. Williamson recorded the name as "Why-chus" in 1855. Why-chus has also been used in some recent Forest Service documents.

"Why-chus," however, is apparently a Wasco term that means simply "a place to cross the water" -- a name that could have been applied to any number of places.

The Paiute term "Suc-ce-que" (also Sesequa), is used on an 1855 map and means "tall rye grass." Other reported names include "Kwe-ai," and Clark's Creek.

Bob Bridgeford, President of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, says that his organization has taken no position on the issue.

"It isn't in the nature of the Watershed Council to initiate something like a name change," he said. "We used Why-chus because the Forest Service used it. Sahaptin River sounds just as good or better....."

The council itself is in a period of transition. Executive Director Barbara Lee recently departed to assume watershed-related work with the Oregon Division of State Lands. Bridgeford says that interviews to select her replacement are scheduled for this week. The new director will be selected from a field of three finalists.

The council also sponsors a Squaw Creek subcommittee that examines issues unique to Squaw Creek. Coincidentally, Bridgeford noted, "We're currently in the process of submitting a grant proposal for a full-time project manager for Squaw Creek."

Or whatever the waterway is to be named.