Committee asks to fast track Devils Tower name change to Bear Lodge

RAPID CITY – The Federal Committee on Reconciliation Place Names Processes and Principles Subcommittee met in Rapid City at the Game, Fish and Parks Campus West, for what was an historic meeting. For two days, June 10-11, they discussed the general process and recommendations for place name changes. By the end of the second day the Committee had voted to submit their draft recommendations. They had also voted to submit recommendations for changing the names of places across the country that are currently known by derogatory names. One of the nearby places which is considered to have an offensive name is Devils Tower in Wyoming. The Committee recommended changing the name from Devils Tower to Bear Lodge, which is the English translation from the Lakota name, Mato Tipila.

They discussed the word “devil.” There are more than 1,400 places across the United States that have the name devil, besides Devils Tower. There is Devils Lake, Devils Canyon and Red Devil Mountain. Many of these names are indicative of what the colonists thought of Native Americans, whom they believed to be godless, and so called them “red devils” and referred to their homelands as “devil’s den.” The Committee recognized that sometimes there were misinterpretations of Indigenous languages but most often, these names were used to demonize Native Americans. Mike Catches Enemy, the chair of the Geographic Features Subcommittee said that the public memory of such places is traumatic. “Places named with this term perpetuate a framework that dehumanizes Native Americans.”

Immediately upon taking office as the first Native American to serve as the Secretary of Interior, Deb Haaland in November of 2021 directed the National Park Service to create a new Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names on behalf of the Department of the Interior.

The immediate charge of the Committee, as per Secretarial Order 3405, is to focus specifically on derogatory names.

Processes and Principles Subcommittee chair Christine Johnson said that the subcommittee had presented a working definition of the word “derogatory” to inform their current and future work. “That definition was read into the record, discussed and was intended to be put forward for a vote at the meeting in Hawaii in 2023 but was omitted from the agenda.” Johnson requested to re-read the definition of “derogatory” into the record she said for the purpose of transparency and to keep it a priority.

“The definition of a derogatory place name is any term that is attached to the national landscape, it’s places and geographic features that is used or intended to be disrespectful, belittling, hurtful or a disparaging slur. If it pejoratively labels any racial or ethnic group, gender, religious affiliation, sexual identity or physical or mental condition, or uses insulting, slang or linguistic derivatives to negatively stereotype certain social groups or identities. All these forms of derogatory place names have a dehumanizing effect and have the impact of perpetuating longstanding structural inequalities and causing harm or exclusion.”

Johnson said there are other types of place names that can also wound the psyche and sense of belonging for those who have been historically marginalized. “The Processes and Principles Subcommittee recognizes there is need for a multi-stage approach to addressing and reforming a wide array of problematic place names on the nation’s landscape.”

Commemorative names for example, which are considered harmful, disrespectful, and offensive to groups that have been historically discriminated against must also be examined in the future. She said the process must include lengthy and transparent dialogue with those impacted to address the names that memorialize events and figures with legacies of violence and oppression. “It is believed that the American namescape must be a dynamic and responsive tapestry.”

The Geographic Features Subcommittee said that for at least a decade, Tribal leaders have sought to change the name of Devils Tower, considered a sacred geographic feature, to Bear Lodge. More than 20 Tribes with close association with the site consider the current name offensive. If the U.S. board on Geographic names doesn’t act within a reasonable time, then the Interior Secretary has the authority to rename a geographic feature. The Subcommittee said it is time for the Secretary to rename the geographic feature, as well as the unincorporated populated place, given the time that has passed and the support of 20 sovereign Nations. In addition, they also ask Interior to engage with the local community to develop an alternate name for the associated unincorporated populated place if Bear Lodge is not supported. They also recommend assisting local businesses with the costs associated with any name change resulting from their actions.

The Subcommittee also recommended a list of geographic names to be moved forward to the Secretary as potentially derogatory. The list of 144 potentially offensive names, none of which are in South Dakota, includes names like “Papoose Creek”, “Rape Coulee”, “Nipper Hollow” and “Faggot Hill” to name a few.

The Subcommittee also said that the word “devil” is a dynamic word and further research is needed to determine where the demonizing and dehumanizing can be found to better understand the impact of this name across the landscape.

The working group suggested that the United States Board on Geographic Names could improve its website to help inform the American public whom they say is generally unaware of the processes behind the naming features on the nation’s landscape.

They also said that other nations have implemented a method of unnaming places and suggested a place be unnamed for a temporary period until a new name had been approved. But Committee Chair Howard Valandra warned against that saying it might be co-opted by unfriendly actors.

The National Park Service says that maps from 1857 to 1901 mark Devils Tower as Bear Lodge or Bears Lodge. The name chang was adopted by the early 1900s.

(Contact Marnie Cook at cookm8715 at gmail.com)

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