RESOLUTION No:  2021-04  

A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING THE RENAMING OF “Squaw Valley” to “Nïm Valley”

WHEREAS, "Squaw Valley" is a census-designated place located in Fresno County, California, United States of America (zip codes 93646 & 93675); and

WHEREAS, Orange Cove is a comfortable agricultural community located within "Squaw Valley" along the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains; and

WHEREAS, The Orange Cove City Council is committed to improving the quality of life in the City and enhancing the public trust; and

WHEREAS, The Orange Cove City Council goals include priorities in the areas of community relations; and

WHEREAS, "Squaw Valley" underscores the disparaging impact on the local Fresno County community of which the name represents; and

WHEREAS, Names are powerful, helping to form our identity, even if unintentional, the current name is harmful; and 

WHEREAS, The word “Squaw” is an informal word associated to Native American women that has come to mean both a part of the female genitalia and a woman of ill repute; and

WHEREAS, The current name "Squaw Valley" perpetuates a sexualized, exploitative, and humiliating narrative that continues to focus the desires and disgust of early European-Americans on the bodies of Native American women; and

WHEREAS, To properly honor our neighboring Native American communities, particularly Native American women, we must eradicate existing degrading geographic names; and

WHEREAS, "Nïm Valley" changes the narrative, identifies, and honors our homelands first inhabitants in the local Western Mono indigenous language.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF 

Orange Cove supports enabling legislation that would authorize the renaming of “Squaw Valley” to “Nïm Valley.” ADOPTED by the Orange Cove City Council this 27th day of January, 2021.