Governor Bill Janklow signed a bill entitled, “ An Act to replace certain geographic names that use offensive names, words, or phrases.”  Jerry Flute, Executive Director, Association on American Indian Affairs located in Sisseton, was cited by the governor as one of the people who were responsible for bringing this issue to his attention. 

Names such as:  Squaw Humper Creek, Squaw Teat Butte, Little Squaw Humper Table along with Negro Wool Ridge and Negro Creek will be erased forever under the new legislation.  Flute along with women from the tribes “Pte Cante Winyan” Buffalo Heart Women, worked with Ron Zylstra of the governors office in advancing the bill through the state legislature. 

Janklow said, “These place names should be replaced by names that reflect South Dakota’s people, history, and heritage without resorting to harmful or offensive stereotypes, names, words, or phrases.”  Flute echoed the governor’s comments by adding, “ the timing was right, the temperament of the legislature was prime for changing derogatory and racial names that were coined centuries ago.  We are now one of a handful of states that have passed laws to correct racial stereotypes, I am very proud for our women and all Dakota people to see history change with the signing of this bill.”