Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows changes its name to Palisades Tahoe

After more than 70 years of operation with a term deemed derogatory by many Native Americans, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows changed its name to Palisades Tahoe.

The resort announced it would be removing the term from its name over a year ago and officially announced the change on Monday morning.

“The Washoe people have lived in the area for thousands of years; we have great reverence for our ancestors, our history and our lands, ”Serrell Smokey, president of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and the Tribe of California, said in a press release. “We are very satisfied with this decision; today is a day that many have worked towards for decades. The Washoe Tribal Council recognizes the importance of the name change and, on behalf of the Washoe people, expresses great appreciation for this positive step forward.

The base area will now be called Olympic Valley, while Alpine Meadows will continue to be the name of the other base area of ​​the stations. The village on the Olympic Valley side will now be known as The Village at Palisades Tahoe. Plans are also in place to launch new names for the Squaw One and Squaw Creek chairlifts, which will be selected with input from the Washoe Tribe, Squaw Creek Resort and the public. Other features like Squaw Creek and Squaw Peak require local government approval to change. Local tribal leaders are actively working to change these names.

“The name ‘Squaw’ was not used by rulers in the past to cause ill will. I fully believe that based on the history I know, but times are changing and we have come to the point where we have said internally that it is the right time to make this significant change, ”said the president and Managing Director of Palisades Tahoe, Dee Byrne. “(The term) does not represent who we are. ‘Squaw’ is a hurtful word. We are not hurtful people. We are respectful, welcoming and inclusive people. It has become quite simple for us.

Byrne was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer in mid-August and has worked at the resort since 2011. She will now oversee the term removal of several hundred locations in the resort and rebranding of one location from iconic ski.

“I just want to thank the community for their support in this process,” Byrne said. “They were heavily involved and we wouldn’t be in this place without their support, without their contribution. We hope Palisades Tahoe represents the best of them and of these unique mountains.

NEW NAME

In researching a new name, the resort team looked at aspects ranging from the history of the Washoe tribe, whose ancestral lands were in the Olympic Valley, to extreme ski movies starring the resort. . The team then carefully conducted numerous surveys, garnering more than 3,000 responses, according to station officials, and held focus groups to consult with a wide range of people in the community, including local residents, local residents, local residents, and local communities. longtime pass holders, athletes who grew up skiing and riding the area, resort employees and members of the local Washoe tribe.

The name is meant to honor both Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows and the granite walls that rise up in each ski area. Officials also unveiled a new logo featuring two mountains and an eagle, which have made the region their home and which is also a nod to a sacred symbol in the Washoe.

The majority of signs with “squaw” will be removed by the start of the ski season, but officials said the old logo appears in thousands of places across the two mountains, and the full removal will take several seasons.

For more information visit http://www.palissadestahoe.com.

Justin Scacco is an editor at Sierra Sun, a sister publication of the Tribune.