Sisters Ranger District explores history of name

The touchy issue of the name of Squaw Creek first came up locally about 11 years ago when the Sisters Ranger District was working on a watershed analysis for Squaw Creek.

According to Maret Pajutee, district ecologist, in visiting with members of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, the Forest Service learned that the term was offensive to many Native Americans.

Curious as to where the name had come from, Pajutee did some research and found a personal history of William Newton Cobb, who first came to the Sisters area in 1879. In his history, Cobb said that the creek had first been called "Clark's Creek."

It became known as "Squaw Creek" following an experience of early Central Oregon rancher John Y. Todd who moved to Central Oregon around 1860.

Todd and his son-in-law came across some Warm Springs Indian women camped on the creek in the late 1800s.

When the Indians' dogs ran out, they frightened Todd's horses and Todd had problems getting them to cross the creek. After that, the creek was referred to as "Squaw Creek."

Sisters resident Georgia Gallagher, born and raised along Squaw Creek, was given Cobb's history by a former neighbor. When asked what she though about the Squaw Creek issue, she said, "I think it's silly. I never thought anything about the word and I don't know any Native American women who do."

In his 2003 book, Oregon Geographic Names, seventh edition, author Lewis A. McArthur, a longtime member of the Oregon Geographic Names board, states that while Squaw Creek was visited by Capt. John C. Fremont in 1843 and a railroad survey party in 1855, neither party named the creek.