SQUAW

[zoupi]

huggeroftrees wrote:

"Squaw" has been a familiar word in American literature and language since the 17th century and has always been normally understood to mean "an Indian woman or wife." The term as commonly used contains no disrespect to Indian women any more than the words "woman" or "wife" do to Anglo-American women.



I never use of words coming from one stranger speach out of my will to comunicate with others but being out of the special history bonding the Natives and the other imigrant races. What I can only say is that for me and most of the French, the word "Squaw" just mean wife, not back thoughs behind that

[tuscarorawoman (deleted)]

Having live with my father's people until I was 16 the only time that word was used was when one of the boys wanted to make us (girls) mad. And it worked. Many walked away with a nose. Even as little girls we were referred to as woman, child the older women almost always used the word honey/baby in referring to the very young females. For me those words had a great meaning they told you how people felt about you, how they saw you, and what was expected from you. It always gave me a warm/peaceful feeling to hear the names. I do find the word squaw VERY offensive and I think before someone uses a name or calls someone by it they should know what it means. Call me a squaw and you better make tracks or cover your ears either way you will know how I feel about that word.***************
Some of us older women take who we are very serious. For we believe when you insult us you insult the women who came before us. ****************
Thanks to the person who told me how the name came to be. I did not know that. All I knew was it was a nasty, mean name and not to be use.

[(deleted)]

`"Squaw" has been a familiar word in American literature and language since the 17th century and has always been normally understood to mean "an Indian woman or wife." The term as commonly used contains no disrespect to Indian women any more than the words "woman" or "wife" do to Anglo-American women.

[pahinhwinh]

"Don't be naive" yourself out there - "squaw" never meant "whore". It is part of the Algonquin word "S(h)unkSquaw", which means "beloved woman" - their term for warrior women. Washichu perverted it & some Indigenous people over the years have suckered for that.
The washichu & their infinitely-damned missionaries sent death squads to specifically & preferentially slaughter us who were Women of Power, behead us, mount our heads on pikes, & parade those heads up & down the Eastern seacoast "to send a message".
This is easily documentable historic fact - do some reading in state historical society librarys, or take a look in a book by Patricia Gunn Allen - I can't recall its name, but it has a really good biography.
Those assaults have not really gone away - I walk with a Pipe, & I still get attacked by missionary-sort idiots. Good thing I have a rare sense of humor about it.. I'm sure you've never walked into a bank & had some mindless missionary sort point at you & rant, "you eat baaaabies! you eat baaaabies!".. but I have. Just one of many such assaults.
Am I a "S(h)unksquaw"? Absolutely! And proud of it. I rattle my tongue for us. And for getting the truth about such things out. Mitakuye oiasin.

"What have YOU done TODAY to HELP HEAL the Sacred Hoop, of which you, too, are a part?"

[comatose19]

`I hate to burst everyone's bubble. Actually, the word "squaw" was what the French and British fur trappers used to address native women. It was slang for vagina. So yeah, I'd say it's a very disrespectful thing to call someone.

[johnmarlon (deleted)]

`I've heard it, like many others, to be a degrading word for women. I've also heard "squaw dogs" which described a hotdog wrapped in frybread. My mom used to use the term squaw dogs until one day she realized its connection to the degrading term, and now she just calls em indian dogs, or I call em shinnob dogs.

[tamari (deleted)]

comatose19 wrote: `I hate to burst everyone's bubble. Actually, the word "squaw" was what the French and British fur trappers used to address native women. It was slang for vagina. So yeah, I'd say it's a very disrespectful thing to call someone.


Finally , One woman knows what the word means.
I was reading all these posts in utter amazment that NOBODY actually knew why they were offended by the word . They just knew that they were. Its a repulsive word not only racist but sexist.

[pahinhwinh]

"Squaw" is from the Algonqian "S(h)unksquaw", which means "beloved woman", which is how they refer to their Clan Mothers & female chiefs.
That crap about 'squaw' meaning whore is from the missionaries (again..) & their seemingly-never-ending crusade to screw up our cultures.
Being a warrior woman, a grandmother, & Traditional since I came to the earth, I'd like this myth to go away. Perhaps we could bury the hatchet.. in it.

"What have YOU done TODAY to HELP HEAL the Sacred Hoop, of which you, too, are a part?"

[whitedeer11]

Thnx for postin' this...
I grew up with both sides of the story and here in Alberta a couple of years ago, I joined a theatre group (Crazy Horse) and we (aboriginal women, not to mention our wonderful and supportive men) performed a show called "Reclaiming Squaw"....sold out show and it focused on aboriginal women through their stages in life. We had a great response, however, I still find peoples restraint from publicly speaking the word....only due to ignorance.

pahinhwinh wrote: "Squaw" is from the Algonqian "S(h)unksquaw", which means "beloved woman", which is how they refer to their Clan Mothers & female chiefs.
That crap about 'squaw' meaning whore is from the missionaries (again..) & their seemingly-never-ending crusade to screw up our cultures.
Being a warrior woman, a grandmother, & Traditional since I came to the earth, I'd like this myth to go away. Perhaps we could bury the hatchet.. in it.

"What have YOU done TODAY to HELP HEAL the Sacred Hoop, of which you, too, are a part?"

AMR Migwetch, Dawn

[eveningson (deleted)]

It is really quite simple where the word came from.... In cree, the name for woman is iskwew..

Non-natives adapted the word as a derogatory description of Indian women. A" squaw man" for example was a white man who was usually "shacked up" with an Indian woman. She was an object of convenience and was often explained away as such by hairy ugly men who thought they were better. It is much worse than the word "broad" for example or even "----" .

I personally find the word very offensive; Similar to "white meat" since the word also has an abusive connotation when used.

"Papoose" is another dehumanizing word that is used as is "buck", or "chief". Thankfully these days these words are used rarely and when used they it is usually by the uneducated. These men though rarely use this word when there is a big indian "buck" around. I wonder why?

[itsallgoodinaz (deleted)]

In navajo its not used nor thought of in any negative way. In fact, many ceremonies entail a social segment to them, and are called SQUAW DANCE. So many a navajo woman and or girl has said, "squaw". They know it refers to women.

[wohelo]

`I think Itsallgoodinaz's comment makes a good point. It's the context in which it's used and by whom. Many Non Natives don't realize that there are so many different Native cultures in North America. Sometimes those words are used in ignorance, sometimes as a put down, sometimes with respect.