Tribe: Remove ‘halfbreed’ from Montana place names

Associated Press ^ | Jul 30, 2014 7:19 PM EDT | Lisa Baumann

[Olog-hai]

The time has come to remove the words “halfbreed” and “breed” from the names of creeks, lakes and other places around Montana, according to leaders of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

Nicholas Vrooman, who works with the tribe, presented a bill draft to that effect during a recent meeting with the State-Tribal Relations Legislative Committee. The words are racist terms that demean American Indians, he said. […]

The bill would require state and other agencies to identify places with the terms and remove them from maps, signs and markers when age or vandalism calls for an update. It would also create a volunteer advisory group that would determine replacement names. Under the proposed bill, replacement names would come from the tribe’s three traditional, historic languages: Chippewa, Cree and Michif. …

[aft_lizard]

This opinion may not make me friends here but without me knowing the historical reasons behind the names, I say change them. Half-Breed is demeaning whether you are native american or not.

[Graewoulf]

I assume that this legal action will require permission from Obama.

[DesertRhino]

Hey, history is better when things are airbrushed clean. Maybe Cripple Creek can change its name to “mobility challenged creek”.

And why do the new names have to be Indian? Lots of decent people of all races lived there and deserved to be memorialized.

[Baynative]

"I assume that this legal action will require permission from Obama."

What with him being a halfbreed, I assume?

[Graewoulf]

Why! I “never” thought of that!

[Mastador1]

This opinion may not make me friends here but without me knowing the historical reasons behind the names, I say change them. Half-Breed is demeaning whether you are native american or not.

How bout in reference to the resident in our White House?

[Vigilanteman]

I could say “To hell with the Chippewa; they drove my Sioux ancestors off our lands”. But I won’t.

[Mears]

The Hawaiians use “hapa” or “hapa haole” as a descriptive.

No one is offended.

.

[Rennes Templar]

“...according to leaders of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians.”

They really mean “Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa First Peoples”

[RedMonqey]

Funny that the politically correct crowd are wiping out “politically correct” native languages.

Squaw is derived from the eastern Algonquian morpheme meaning ‘woman’ that appears in numerous Algonquian languages.

This is ‘Cultural Genocide’ if it were done by mean old white male conservatives.

Are “buffalo kills” next on the list?

[FlingWingFlyer]

As a white person, I want them to stop calling bars, “Honky Tonks”! It really hurts my feelings. Hrumpf! Hrumpf!

[EternalVigilance]

As a white person, I want them to stop calling bars, “Honky Tonks”! It really hurts my feelings. Hrumpf! Hrumpf!

Sue the Rolling Stones! "Honky Tonk Women" was both racist AND misogynistic!

[seowulf]

Tribe: Remove ‘halfbreed’ from Montana place names

I assume this is because they're ashamed of the white half.

[FlingWingFlyer]

LOL! You got that right!

[berdie]

That made me chuckle...really loud!!

[reg45]

Dead Injun Gulch

[Theoria]

Some aren’t : Metis people.

[Veto!]

Cripple Creek can change its name to “mobility challenged creek”.

LOL. And yes, why do new names have to be Indian? Murphy and Johnson are great names.

[dfwgator]

Hey, history is better when things are airbrushed clean. Maybe Cripple Creek can change its name to “mobility challenged creek”.

Oh great, now "The Band" is going to have to change their lyrics.