A view of the park in Buffalo. Photo from sbrof / Panoramio

Two Native women are asking the city council in Buffalo, New York, to find a new name for a park.

Jodi Lynn Maracle, who is Mohawk, and Agnes Williams, who is a member of the Seneca Nation, say Squaw Island is offensive to Native women. The 60-acre island is located along Buffalo River.

"It is embarrassing and reprehensible that the Queen City, the City of Good Neighbors, Buffalo, New York, would continue to use such an antiquated, racist and sexist term to describe one of its beautiful parks,” Maracle said in a letter to the council, The Buffalo News reported.

City council members said they were open to coming up with a new name in consultation with tribes and the local Native community.

Other states and jurisdictions are removing "squaw" place names from their maps.

Get the Story:
Common Council is asked to change name of Squaw Island (The Buffalo News 11/26)