A 2-mile-long ridge about 8 miles west of Pateros will be known as Swaram Creek Ridge, following the approval of a name-change proposal from a Methow tribal elder. The Washington State Board on Geographic Names approved the change at its meeting on June 6.
The proposal to rename the ridge Swaram Creek Ridge was submitted last year by Elaine Timentwa Emerson from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The new name for the ridge matches Swaram Creek, which was renamed in 2017, also after a suggestion by a Methow elder.
The names for the creek and the ridge replace the former name, Squaw Creek (Ridge), which is considered a derogatory term for Indigenous women.
Now that the state board has approved the change, it will go to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names for review. Approval by the federal board would apply the change on all officials maps.
The Washington board will also submit an alternate proposal from the Yakama Nation to rename the ridge Mokheil, the Yakamas’ traditional name for the ridge.
The U.S. board approved the change to Swaram Creek in 2018.
