The cycle repeats itself. As a Native American woman I find the term
"squaw" very derogatory. When people use the term without meaning to
be derogatory I can't help but label them as offensively ignorant. Squaw
WAS used repeatedly as a derogatory term. When my female ancestors were
referred to as squaws it was meant to be derogatory. When I was called
squaw on the playground as a child (as recently as the late 1960's) it
wasn't meant to be a term of endearment. It was an epithet.

For persons who avoid using this term out of consideration or respect for
the pain and suffering of generations of Native Americans, I say thank
you. It does matter.

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*Dorrie (Dorothy) Rhoades *
*Seattle, Washington *
*email: drhoades at u.washington.edu *
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