by
Judith K. Witherow
photos by Sue Lenaerts
the ongoing name change battle in Phoenix, AZ. Since the death of Spc. Lori Piestewa in Iraq and
Governor Janet Napolitano’s effort to right a long standing wrong, there has been non-stop
controversy surrounding the efforts both pro and con.
My reaction was a natural response because I’ve been following the controversy and writing an article
about the furor over changing “Squ*w” Peak and “Squ*w” Parkway to Piestewa Peak and Piestewa
Parkway. This mountain peak has numerous hiking trails of various heights and distance, and the
area offers diverse interests for many. It seemed unbelievable that people from numerous walks of life,
race, class and cultures could lose their sense of decency over what seemed like a fitting tribute to a
fallen warrior. Most importantly, the name change would rid my people (American Indians) of two
more racist names assigned by white men. The outrage against the name change has ranged from
frothing at the mouth anger to pure nonsense.
Spc. Lori Piestewa sustained life ending injuries on March 23, 2003. Her death occurred during an
attack serving with the U.S. military in the Iraq/Pakistan invasion. She had the option of retreat, but
chose to stay and help her comrades in battle. She was the first Native American woman to die in
combat on foreign soil in the service of the United States.
Piestewa, a Hopi woman from Tuba City, AZ., was a mere twenty three years old when she deployed
willingly despite medical clearance due to a shoulder injury. Her two children were to stay with their
grandparents until her expected return to the Navajo Reservation.
The Hopi tribe has a long tradition of non-violence. This may seem like a contradiction when she
willingly joined in defense of country, but this conviction is held with the lifelong belief that from the
beginning of life your goal is to help others. This way of life extends from family, clan and carries
through to the community and nation.
Considering the bio attributed to Piestewa, one could say that others might be more deserving of the
name change. If we were only describing her personal or military background, that would be reason
for argument. However, when you look at the larger picture, the time was perfect to rid ourselves of
one more demeaning term on a landmark. Piestewa had the stature to fill the role in accomplishing
this goal and obliterating the hated female term.
After Lori’s death, Democratic Governor Janet Politano suggested the name change to the Republican
majority legislature. Her request turned into one of the biggest battles she had yet to encounter.
Napolitano argued that changing the name of the landmark would be an appropriate tribute to
Piestewa while removing the word “squ*w.” The definition of this word has been debated and
disagreed upon by countless people. It’s been commonly referred to as meaning female genitalia.
Regardless of what anyone believes, if many who it impacts find something derogatory in the
definition, this should be respected and its use discontinued. (There are plenty of cases that can be
cited in defense of this argument.) Even if it should ever be determined to mean something else, the
practice of using this name in defining Native American women is still racist beyond all reason.
The Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names renamed the mountain soon after it was
brought up for a vote after a divisive debate. When I heard, I was overjoyed. However, the federal
board requires a five year waiting period before it changes the name on maps and other federal
publications. The name of the deceased is not allowed on publications for this amount of time to allow
a cooling down period for those who are either pro or con on the subject of the name change. At the
time, I was naïve enough to think that it was ridiculous. Who could possibly be against changing a
name so ugly, and not embrace the honor of a young woman who, in so many ways, personified the
things this country stood for? Even though I live in spitting distance of the stadium where the
Washington R*dskins football team plays, it still seemed like few would be in disagreement after the
five year wait. Naïvety be damned! It was borderline stupidity.
In March of 2008, my partner and I started looking through travel guides and tour books. We have
good friends who live in Arizona so we decided to call them about a visit. They live in Tucson, and the
last time we visited years earlier we bought Saguaro seeds. The cactus seeds were planted and three
cacti survived in three separate households. It was time to return them to the desert from which they
had originated. This was another reason for renewing our tie to a totally different area than the east.
When Sue found “Piestewa Peak” in a tour book, we decided to fly into Phoenix and then drive to
Tucson. (She also found Lori’s name on a map.) That clinched our plans.
The day after we arrived we drove directly to what we thought would be Piestewa Peak and Parkway
as the guides stated. When I saw the large green destination signs, my heart
dropped. On the large green and white sign were the words Squ*w Peak.
I looked at Sue in disbelief. We went two hours out of our way so that we
could take pictures of the wonderful event that had taken place on the state
level five years earlier, and the federal change that was about to be decided.
The long anticipated moment turned to a mixture of disbelief and anger.
How long were we - the first people in this land - going to be treated as third world and third class?
Apparently without time limit, at the rate we’ve been forced to accept the numerous wrongs that have
been promoted as “noble.” Non-stop battles to change racist names are constantly being unfairly
judged, yet we remain determined to right these wrongs. Names of everything from sports teams to
geographical areas is being challenged. The bill of goods sold to us from the beginning has worn us
down so far that we’ve fallen to the bottom of every chart, be it the worst health statistics, or drug and
alcohol abuse, poverty, and lack of self determination on reservations, etc. How long? "How long?", in
the words of a man who fought for the dream of his people.
We went to the visitors’ center, and I posed in front of the metal
park sign where the words, Squ*w Peak” are boldly displayed.
Below the sign was information about what to expect concerning
this beautiful landmark. We took stunning photographs of
Piestewa Peak and its diverse desert vegetation. An awe inspiring
experience, lessened by a hated racist name which many accept
and are prepared to see remain.
On April 10, 2008, the names were federally changed to Piestewa Peak and Piestewa Parkway, with
a vote of 11 - 2. It’s anyone’s guess how long it will take to replace the signs. Lou Yost, the board’s
executive secretary, said from D.C., that the two members who voted against the change argued that
“Piestewa didn’t have a direct association with the mountain, and is not of regional or national
prominence.” They still don’t get it! It brings to my mind the renaming of National Airport after
Ronald Reagan. Maybe he once looked over at the airport or something. Then there is Mount
Rushmore. A sacred mountain to many of us, but it was desecrated with the faces of four white men.
They probably all climbed it at one time or another. Some have even petitioned to have Reagan
chiseled in alongside the others. At least they have one word correct - chiseler - in my not so humble
opinion. But maybe I hit my head when I fell through his security net along with countless others.
I’ve observed numerous name changes over the years, but I have never heard the amount of
discussion this one landmark has generated. In all fairness, many of the other name changes were to
those of the majority ruling class, so asking our opinion on the subject might not have been deemed
necessary. With that fact in mind, I will present the negative words that others have put forth in
various forms of reported correspondence. I will then follow with quotes from those who were deeply
committed to Piestewa Peak's overwhelming victory from the beginning, and who understood the
importance of defending the dignity and self worth implicit in the name change.
Many sources argued that Piestewa, the first American Indian woman to die in combat while serving
in the U.S. military, deserved to have a site named in her honor. But others have argued that Squ*w
peak should represent all veterans.
Kumeyaay.com: In an 11-2 vote, the U.S Board on Geographic Names, whose members represent
Agriculture, Homeland Security, and other federal departments, agreed to change the name of the
summit, a move that follows action taken by a state panel in 2003. The new name will be used on
maps and other federal publications, although “Squ*w Peak” may appear on such documents
as a second reference.
Bob Hiatt: Works in cataloging and support office for the Library of Congress along with a
representative of the U.S. Census Bureau—”I don’t think she (Lori) met the requirements,” Hiatt said,
“She had no direct association with the feature. She lived in northern Arizona. Any celebrity she had
was as a result of what the governor of Arizona did.”
Scott Gilbert: “It’s always going to be Squ*w Peak to me,” said Phoenix resident Scott Gilbert as he
prepared Thursday for one of his regular hikes at the site. “I have a son who is a Marine and don’t
think this is a case to name the mountain after one person.” (Scott, how would you feel if it was a
daughter, and she was Native American?) JKW
AZ. Politics-Eastvalleytribune.com: “Whatever, have the map call it that. We all know what we
will be calling it. And it will not be because I don’t respect Lori, it’s that I respect tradition more.”
“I will always call it squ*w peak, and will refer to it that way to anyone who calls it otherwise. This is
such a political, leftist boo hoo issue, I wanna gag.”
Larry Wayt: Leader of a local hiking group who runs the squ*wpeakhiker.org Web site, said he was
disappointed in the federal boards decision to rename the peak. “A lot of the words that are
considered offensive are still used, and that really doesn’t enter into it as far as I’m concerned,” he
said. Wayt who served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 22 years, before retiring in 1977, said the board
should have left the name the same or changed it for all veterans.
The Decision: The national board has a criteria to institute a geographic name change in their
Principles, Policies and Procedures for Domestic Geographic Names manual, which the name
Piestewa fitted well. It met the derogatory definition, that Squ*w is a term demeaning to Native
Americans. It met the “commemorative names” definition as the Lori Ann Piestewa name is held in
respect and honor for her sacrifices as a soldier whereas she was the first Native American woman
killed in combat while serving for the U.S. military and is known throughout the state and the
country as well, even known to some populations in Canada and Mexico. It met the “local usage”
definition as it is a name that has been used for the past five years since Lori Piestewa’s death in 2003.
Arizona Native Scene
Comments: Joe A. Garcia, President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI),
Ernest Martinez leader of the Piestewa Memorial Committee and Priscilla Piestewa
Joe A Garcia: wrote “Such a step in changing the name is a remarkable improvement for the U.S.
Government to recognize that American Indian communities are no longer accepting the derogatory
and negative imagery. The Hopi people should be proud and honored that such a step has been taken
to honor one of their bravest citizens."
victory for women in general and the American Indian, but just
as importantly it was a historic and lasting contribution to the
progress of this nation in being sensitive and valuing diversity.”
Priscilla Piestewa: Said a prayer to her daughter after
hearing the news of the official name change. “I said, ‘It’s a bless-
ing that you gave your life. Not just for a friend but for the great,
the small. For everybody.’ “
gender, sexual orientation, disability and other political issues. Awarded “Community Builder for Decades”
Pacifica Radio In Our Voices 2007. Board Member: Sinister Wisdom. www.jkwitherow.com
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