Photo by Randy Brown When one travels up the Tatonduk River drainage in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, everywhere you look there are beautiful views of mountains. In effort to remove derogatory names from federal lands, one of these mountains officially has a new name. It was previously known as Squaw Mountain, but as of September 8, 2022, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names with input from the Native Village of Eagle, Eagle Village Council, and community Elders have renamed the mountain, Jëjezhuu Tr’injàa.
Photo by Randy Brown 
Jëjezhuu Tr’injàa is a Hän Athabascan word which means Native Women. First Chief Karma Ulvi shared that they were very honored to be able to work with the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior on renaming Squaw Mountain. "Many families of our Hän Hwëch'in village have traveled this land and hunted and gathered in these areas. The Elders and I felt that because the mountain had a derogatory name for native women for so long, we would honor native women with the name Jëjezhuu Tr'injàa. This makes us very proud to be able to get rid of these old names that were strong stereotypes of native women and call this mountain something we are all proud of. It truly uplifts our people and is a wonderful accomplishment." Jody Potts-Joseph, a Native Village of Eagle Tribal Council member, feels a strong connection to this local area within Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. Her grandmother Blind Kate was born in these mountains. Whenever Jody spends time on the land and heads up the Tatonduk River, she feels connected to her ancestors. 
Photo by Randy Brown |
Last updated: May 12, 2023