OLYMPIA, Wash. – Eighteen geographical features in Washington state will get new names under a directive from U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.
Haaland ordered the change because the places are currently named with a term that’s considered a sexual slur against indigenous women.
But the state DNR’s Committee on Geographical Names is sending Haaland a letter saying the process is being moved along too fast.
They say it’s not allowing enough time for tribal and public input.
A state archeologist says many of the geographic names being considered would erase the women and “their history on the land.”
Under the current process, the public has until April 25th to comment on the proposed name changes.