Name landmarks with respect and dignity of Native peoples

The Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names will meet on June 10th to continue its critical work in removing racist slurs from hundreds of geographic landmarks and waterways -- and they need to hear from us. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the first Native person to lead a Cabinet agency under a presidential administration, has led this successful effort. And while the names of more than 650 geographical landmarks and waterways have been changed during the Biden administration, our work is not done. The use of offensive place names perpetuates discrimination, racism, and denies this land’s history of Indigenous people being the original stewards of the land. While the Advisory Committee has implemented a successful renaming process, there are improvements that can still be made, including more community involvement from impacted communities instead of unilateral changes by the Committee itself; a 90-day minimum Tribal consultation period; more community outreach and education around forthcoming renamings; and listening sessions to foster a more inclusive and participatory process. Click “START WRITING” to send a pre-drafted message to the committee from our coalition of Indigenous, environmental, and conservation organizations, urging them to continue taking necessary steps in renaming derogatory landmarks in consultation with Tribes and other impacted communities.