The Oregon Geographic Names Board voted on Tuesday to rename about a dozen "squaw" place names in the state.

Squaw Island in Coos County will now renamed Qochyax Island. "Qochyax" means women and children and was proposed by the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians.

Squaw Creek will be renamed Whychus Creek. The name means "the place we cross the water" in Sahaptin, one of the languages of the Warm Springs Tribes.

The changes will now go before the U.S. Board on Geographic Names for final approval. Oregon law requires the removal of the 180 "squaw" place names in the state.

Get the Story:
Next stop Qochyax Island (AP 10/12)
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Relevant Links:
U.S. Board on Geographic Names - http://geonames.usgs.gov/bgn.html

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