SQUAW -Facts on the Eradication of the "S" Word American Indian women and men all around the United States and Canadareject the use of the word squaw in reference to American Indianwomen. The word has been imposed on our culture by European Americansand appears on hundreds of geographic place names. Suzan Shown Harjobrought the issue to national attention on the Oparh Winfrey Show back in 1992. Since that time projects to eliminate the use of the wordon geographic sites have formed in Minnesota (Dawn Litzau and AngeleneLosh), in Arizona (Delena Waddle and Seipe Flood), in California (Stormy Ogden), and in Iowa (Fawn Stubben). Many other states areforming groups to eradicate the use of the word from geographic placenames and women's sports teams. 1.When people argue that the word squaw appears in the dictionary, remind them that the word is also identifiedas derogatory. The Thesaurus of Slang lists the term squaw as a synonym for prostitute, harlot, hussy, and floozy. 2.When people argue that the word originates in American Indianlanguage point out that: •In the Algonquin languages the word squaw means vagina. •In the Mohawk language the word otsikwaw means female genitalia. Mohawk women and men found thatearly European fur traders shortened the word to squaw because that represented what they wanted from Mohawk women. •Although scholarship traces the word to the Massachusset Indians backin the 1650s, the word has different meanings (or may not exist at all)in hundreds of other American Indian languages. This claim alsoassumes that a European correctly translated the Massachusset language to English--that he understood the nuances of Indian speech. •Attitudes of white supremacy account for the need of separate identifying terms such as squaw and buck. In order to justify the taking ofthe land, American Indian women and men had to be labled withdehumanizing terms. Europeans and European Americans spreadthe use of the word as they moved westward across the continent. 3.When people say "it never used to bother Indian women to be called squaw, respond with the following questions and statement. •Were American Indian women of people ever asked? Have you everasked an American Indian woman, man, or child how they feel about theword? (Do not say the word yourself, simply call it the "s" word) then state that it has always been used to insult American Indian women. 4.When people ask "why now?" explain that: •Through communication and education American Indian people have come to understand the derogatory meaning of the word. American Indian women claim the right to define ourselves as women and we reject the offensive term squaw.