Racist and Offensive Place Names: The Movement to Rename Mountains, Rivers, and Valleys

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Thousands of mountains, valleys and rivers located on public lands have racist and problematic names. These names perpetuate a history of colonial oppression in the United States and have resulted in public lands that are not welcoming and inclusive places. It’s time to change that. Join us for a conversation that delves into the scope of the problem and examines patterns of offensive place names in national parks, hear from grassroots advocates working to change offensive places nearest them, and learn about what you can do to help.

Panelists:
- Valerie Grussing, Ph.D., Executive Director of the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers
- Maria Givens, co-founder of Tahoma Peak Solutions, which empowers and uplifts communities in Indian Country
- Bonnie McGill, Ph.D., lead author of “Words are Monuments: Patterns in US national park place names perpetuate settler colonial mythologies including white supremacy”
- Fred Mosqueda, Arapaho Coordinator of the Cultural Program, Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes

Featuring recorded remarks from: Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Al Green.

Moderator: Paul Spitler, Sr. Legislative Policy Manager, The Wilderness Society

Sponsored by: National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, The Natural History Museum, and The Wilderness Society