Squaw Valley Olympics 1960. (Photo: parks.ca.gov)
Famed Squaw Valley Ski Resort Changes Name to ‘Palisades Tahoe’
Change due to controversy over the use of ‘squaw’ slur in name
By Evan Symon, September 15, 2021 11:11 am
The famed Lake Tahoe-area ski resort and the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley, announced on Tuesday that it is changing its name to Palisades Tahoe after just over a year of deliberations.
Local Native American tribes have been working for ears to rename the famed resort. While “squaw” is an Algonquin word that means “woman,” it has been used as a derogatory slur against Native American women since the 1800’s and has been called both misogynist and racist.
While some changes have happened in recent years, such as many areas like the post office changing their name to “Olympic Valley” and many other locations across the United States removing or changing the name, Squaw Valley had been a more difficult case because of it’s historic and Olympic associations, as well as trademarks around the name. However, the George Floyd protests last year rapidly changed the minds of many and the resort finally approved a name change.
“More than one year ago, we came to the conclusion that it was time to change our name,” said the new Palisades Tahoe on their website on Tuesday. “The reasons were clear—the old name was derogatory and offensive. It did not stand for who we are or what we represent. And we could not in good conscience continue to use it. So we began a long and difficult process.”
“We spoke extensively to the local community, heavily researched local history, and went through countless rounds of creative exploration. We dug hard and deep to find a name and identity that would do justice to this place and its legacy.”
‘We are very proud of our resort’s new name. It encompasses both of our mountains, captures the individuality of our people, and welcomes all guests to take part in our new chapter.”
A new name in Lake Tahoe
In a statement, Palisades Tahoe President and COO Dee Byrne also said “While this may take some getting used to, our name change was an important initiative for our company and community. At the end of the day, ‘squaw’ is a hurtful word, and we are not hurtful people.”
Native American tribes around Lake Tahoe approved of the decision as well.
“The word itself is a constant reminder of the unjust treatment of the Native people, of the Washoe people,” noted Washoe Tribe Historic Preservation Office representative Darrel Cruz. “It’s a constant reminder of those time periods when it was not good for us. It’s a term that was inflicted upon us by somebody else and we don’t agree with it.”
Washoe Tribal Chairman Serrell Smokey added in a statement that “The Washoe People have lived in the area for thousands of years. We are very pleased with this decision; today is a day that many have worked towards for decades.”
“It’s a positive step forward. There’s been a lot of progress but there’s still a lot of work to be done. We need to continue to capitalize on that progress and continue to push forward.”
Locals in and around the now name-changed Squaw Valley had a more mixed reaction on Tuesday and Wednesday. While some wanted to keep the name due to its historical origins and ties with the Olympics, others agreed with the resorts and tribes of the need for the change. Many more fell in somewhere in between.
“Part of me is going to miss the old name,” noted longtime area resident Charles Carter, who worked as a car attendant during the 1960 Olympics and has seen the area grow with the number of resorts over the years, to the Globe on Wednesday. “But, if you ask anyone here, the name doesn’t matter so much as these mountains. Are they taking away skiing? Are they getting rid of the hotels? Is this hurting the economy? Will the new name tear down a bunch of trees? It’s not, so a lot of people are ok with it there.”
“It’s been a big issue here, but if a lot of people, especially those that the name covers, says it’s offensive and hurts them, I guess it’s time for a change. Place names change all the time anyway.”
While Squaw Valley will still be referred to such in historical context, both the Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski resorts will now be Palisades Tahoe. Within the area, Olympic Valley will be used largely to discuss the areas past.
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How about SnowFlake slopes?
Palisades Tahoe is just the trade name for a ski resort combining Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley.
What about Squaw Creek that runs through the valley to the Truckee River? Or Squaw Peak? Will they be changed on the USGS topo maps? How about The Inn At Squaw Creek? Or Granite Chief — the stunning mountain that hovers over the former site of the Olympic Village? What about Apache Ct, overlooking the same view from the opposite side, with its spectacular views looking up at Granite Chief? Will all these names need to be changed too?
A culinary conundrum…..Squaw Bread.
It will always be Squaw to us, our grandchildren won’t know where or what Squaw Valley is.
HOW ABOUT WOKE VALLEY FOR THE WHOLE AREA! GOOD GOD LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED!
Can someone post a Woke Valley logo for us all to use?
Is the removal to Native American names and words really a benefit to the native american heritage? It seems this woke thinking is just going to erase that heritage more than anything else… sad day.
And everybody will still call it Squaw Valley. Except for the people who don’t know that it is Squaw Valley. In which case they’ll treat it as just another hotel they’ve never heard of, i.e. nothing special.
It’s called ‘Branding’ folks. And once a brand is established, you don’t change it on the consumer. Think: Would consumers still buy as much Coca-Cola if they decided to change their name because it sounded too much like drugs? Or what would happen if Ford changed the Mustang name to something else because somehow it abused animals or some such nonsense? (Or changed the company name away from Ford because Henry didn’t like Jews, something not so farfetched in these woke times?)
Stupid move made to placate a bunch of malcontent and self-involved bullies who will only view it as weakness.
Just a thought.
VicB3
Were there any actual Indians that were offended or did the use of the word squaw just make modern white people uncomfortable. Can’t have that.
Dumbing down of America. Political correctness imposed on the majority by a very vocal and hostile anti-American minority…..
Do the American Indians find Squaw Valley offensive ? Answer NO Next will it be squaw bread ?
Did anyone in Squaw management bother to look up the definition of palisades? In colonial America a palisade is a wooden wall erected to keep out indigenous people and wild animals .This is what we get when the woke aren’t awake! I suppose it’s time to rename the plant, squaw carpet. All you snowflakes need to go down the hill and melt.
Side note, In the SV village and in Genoa there is a larger than life statue of Snowshoe Thompson ,an American legend, tough as they come. He was an amazing part of our history. He once joined with Genoa Rangers and Silver City Guards to battle Native Americans warriors .Is his statue next on the chopping block of wokeness? You can’t rewrite history .It is what it is.
I got it ,Elizabeth Warrenland.
Who works for ears?
So why could they not use the Indian name for the area to acknowledge who was there before instead of some name that doesn’t even suggest anything mountain like?
Enough, you can’t please everyone all the time. But I wonder who’s gonna be offended now, cause I’m sure somebody will step forward. After all I just wanna go skiing.
btw: how about Northern California Ski resort. Guess they should all be numbered?
Woke culture is SICK.
I can accept that squaw was once a slur but by the time the area adopted it as part of its name I would think that it had taken on a neutral reference for a female Indian (as I had thought of it for several decades before the squaw furor arose). Who would ever choose to use a slur in naming their home town? The problem would seem to have arisen when some etymologically minded person explored its origin and then broadcast to everyone that it was once very problematic (and with his “help” is once again).