Re: Conflict Over "Racist" Title for Play

Dick Shovel, Ltd. (jsd@infi.net)
Wed, 22 Mar 1995 22:01:31 -0500


>>From the National Daily News Summary, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Friday,
MMarch 17, 1995.

>Squaw title irks leader

>WINNIPEG - Debate has erupted in Winnipeg's aboriginal community over the
>title of a play about racism against native women. The play is called
>Those Damn Squaws. Objections are being raised by a male native leader who
>says the title mocks aboriginal women...

O'siyo...

I respectfully suggest that alcon note that the term "squaw" is an
abbreviation of the phrase "otisquaw,"(sp?) a First Nations phrase meaning
"vagina." This was discussed at length on either NativeL or NatChat some
time ago...To even consider using a title such as "Those Damn Squaws" for
this play underlines an ignorance by the plays' creators consistent with
Wasichu's denigrating approach to the First Nations.

Nvwhtohiyada...Jordan