Changes to ME mountain names

[dms]

Ever wonder how Big Squaw became Big Moose, or how Squaw's Bosom became Moose Bosom? Check out www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2006/05/30/geographer_explores_place_names_that_offend/

 

[Artex]

According to the article, I have a few ex-girlfriends who fit the definition of squaw.

 

[onestep]

Well they haven't got around to changing road names, yet. There's the ******* Annie Rd in Minot ME, and the Sodom Rd in Buckfield ME.

Onestep

 

[spencer]

Yeah, the whole thing is pretty stupid.

Can you imagine what parents will say when their children ask them in 30 years, "Mommy, what is a Moose Bosom?"

It's like the idiots in the legislature just did an update query on their databases so that anything named "Squaw" became "Moose" without any consideration for context.

spencer

 

[WhiteMTHike]

Anyone ever been to Intercourse, PA?

 

[el-bagr]

I realize a lot of you might care what the government tells us to call things. I care, but I'm damned if I'm going to change what I call something just because the government tells us to. I did a bit of skiing over the weekend on the Mt Washington snowfields -- Agiochook itself, the Snowy Forehead, or call it Waumbekmethna if you will. I also did some skiing off Mt Clay, which I heard a few folks call Mt Reagan. Damned if it's Mt Reagan to me!

There's more to my rant than resistance to government mindwiping. Some folks are wholly fixated on one set of systematics (taxonomy). I celebrate the diversity of systematics, both official and folk. If someone says, "Isn't the light beautiful on those ____ leaves?", I don't care whether the blank is filled with "popple", "Bigtooth aspen", or "Populus grandidentata". I know what you're talking about, and that's the primary function of human communication. I have a friend who's an old-timer woodsman who persists in calling all conifers "pines". Taxonomically incorrect under the Linnean system, but it's a great demonstration of local systematics.

Long live diversity! Long live history! Long live well-documented toponymic etymology!

You can call it "Big Moose" if you want, but to me, it'll always be "Big Squaw". Offensive to some, undoubtedly, but to me, that's it's name.

And yes, I've eaten pie in Intercourse on my way to Bird-in-Hand.

 

[spongebob]

I support the reverse political correctness of Shawnee ski resort in Bridgton. It used to be called Pleasant Mountain Ski area. Don't tell me when I'm to be pleasant, that pisses me off. We need more Native American.....whoops Indian names.

 

[Dennis C.]

Chances are quite a number of you have been up Rogers Ledge in the White Mtns, but how many know the original name of this peak? (RoySwkr for one) The "peakmaster" showed me an early 15 min. quad map which is is the same as the one I purchased back about 1972 except for this name change. No-o .... I won't mention it here ...

 

[dms]

Dennis, I agree with you, that's one name change that was totally justified!!!!!!

 

[NH_Mtn_Hiker]

Dennis, I agree with you, that's one name change that was totally justified!!!!!!

I agree with Dennis and dms...The original name didn't smell very good anyways. .....but did they have to name it after Mr. Rogers?

 

[forestgnome]

My grandma was MicMac. I'm 25% MicMac. These name changes are not due to outrage by the natives. They are a result of politicians practicing political correctness, aimed at demonstrating that they are the tolerant ones by helping the natives.

The article reads "with Native Americans arguing"... Oh really? All of them? As usual, a small but vocal percentage of a group gets the press. Where's the poll showing overwhelming sentiment? This is typically lame journalism.

 

[Puck]

My grandma was MicMac. I'm 25% MicMac. These name changes are not due to outrage by the natives. They are a result of politicians practicing political correctness, aimed at demonstrating that they are the tolerant ones by helping the natives.

You think it is just the politicians?? I took a course while in college on the history of the French and Indian War. We spent along time discussing the terms that are getting kicked around in this thread. The term 'Native American' came from the intelligencia uncomfortable with 'Indian.' I always liked the term "FIrst Nations" however, being in America we have to coin our own original terms and can't borrow them from our neigbors to the north.

Oh, and the conclusion was try to use the tribe's name if you can, if not use 'Indian' as an adjective. That seems to keep the scholars happy, the injuns I have talked with really don't care. Just keep going to the casinos.

 

[Paradox]

There is also a Climax, PA, and a Ballsville, PA. Those Pennsylvanians will scandalize anyplace.

 

[David Metsky]

I think this one has gone as far as it's going to go.

-dave-