The Oregon House has voted to push forward a bill aiming to rename places with offensive names across the state's geography. HB 3532, also known as the Dignity in Place Act, was led by Representative Tawna Sanchez of Portland, seeking to accelerate the process of scrubbing derogatory names from Oregon's maps. Locations under review include Squaw Creek in Douglas County, Chinaman Hat in Josephine County, and Cannibal Mountain in Lincoln County.
"Renaming offensive locations in Oregon reflects our shared commitment to mutual respect, historical truth and creating a welcoming environment for all Oregonians," Rep. Sanchez stated, according to an official release from Oregon House Democrats. The bill is an extension of efforts that stretch back to 2001, when then-Sen. Kate Brown passed legislation to eliminate such names, a request emanating from members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
Since that time, the Oregon Historical Society has compiled a list of over one hundred locations with potentially offensive names, yet many still stand to be changed. This new bill directly addresses the need for broader reach and a quicker pace in the renaming process. In a testimony, former Gov. Kate Brown stressed the importance of this progression, stating that the bill will work closely with the Historical Society to ensure all Oregonians feel represented.
Rep. Annessa Hartman echoed the sentiment, adding, "The next generation shouldn’t have to grow up seeing slurs on signs and thinking it’s just something they have to live with. It’s long past time we step up, take responsibility, and remove them from our maps and landmarks." The bill now heads to the Senate, where it will undergo further consideration before potentially being enshrined into law.
