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February 16, 2020<\/p>\n
We, the members of the San Joaquin Valley Democratic Club, support the removal of the word \u201csquaw\u201d from all geographic features in America, consistent with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Haaland\u2019s proclamation\u2014a process that would include all members of the afflicted communities\u2014and allow them to select a new name.<\/p>\n
We believe that this change is necessary to help end the intergenerational trauma in Native American communities associated with this word.\u00a0 And when we look at the vision and guiding principles of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors\u2014\u201cWorking together for a quality of life for all,\u201d and \u201cRespecting and embracing ethnic and cultural diversity\u201d\u2014it is clear that these principles must preclude permitting a community name which is synonymous with such a pejorative term.<\/p>\n
We ask that you champion the spirit that Fresno County proclaims itself to be, that is, respectful to all<\/u> members of its community.\u00a0 We hope that you will join us in acknowledging that \u201cSquaw Valley\u201d is not appropriate for a geographical name in Fresno County, nor is it consistent with the vision and guiding principles of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.<\/p>\n
Our request to the Board of Supervisors is simple:\u00a0 Host a community meeting to discuss this issue.\u00a0 Thus far, Fresno County Supervisor, Nathan Magsig has prevented the County Administrative Officer from including this topic as an agenda item.\u00a0 Subsequently to this decision, the Rename S-Valley Coalition held a virtual meeting due to COVID restrictions, to discuss this issue. District 5 Supervisor, Magsig, did not approve of this meeting and \u00a0yet he suggested instead, that the onus for hosting an in-person meeting to discuss the renaming of places within his district should lie with the Rename S-Valley Coalition\u2014his constituents.\u00a0 We believe that it is the responsibility of Fresno County\u2019s elected representative, to initiate such a meeting.<\/p>\n
A community meeting to discuss the history and meaning of this pejorative name, will help the residents of this county gain awareness of the role of violence against indigenous women.\u00a0 The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women\u2019s Movement (MMIWM) is growing in the U.S. \u00a0\u00a0Changing the defamatory and degrading term for this valley will help our community recognize that such names are offensive and give cover to the violence against women that Native American women have experienced for too many years.\u00a0 Raising awareness and changing names are only the beginning; recognizing MMIW on May 5, as a National Awareness Day is also a good place to start.<\/p>\n
Will the Fresno County Board of Supervisors demonstrate leadership and heed the calls of thousands of Fresno County residents and those impacted by this name facilitate a meeting in S-Valley that can accommodate restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 virus and its variants? Will you place it as an agenda item on a future Board of Supervisors meeting? Will you host a special Fresno County Board of Supervisors meeting in the evening to discuss the above question?<\/p>\n
We respectfully encourage the Board of Supervisors to follow through with these actions,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The membership of the San Joaquin Valley Democratic Club<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
February 16, 2020 We, the members of the San Joaquin Valley Democratic Club, support the removal of the word \u201csquaw\u201d from all geographic features in America, consistent with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Haaland\u2019s proclamation\u2014a process that would include all members of the afflicted communities\u2014and allow them to select a new name. We believe … <\/p>\n