Ts’akae Creek Roadsign Erected Years After Official Name Change from Derogatory Word

In April, three years and eight months after the Department of the Interior officially changed the name of a creek that crosses the Richardson Highway near 54 mile to Ts’akae Creek, a new roadsign was erected. 

In a press release about the change in 2022, Corina Ewan stated, “The place-names in this region are located in the traditional territory of the lower Ahtna people, for whom the Native Village of Chitina (NVC) is the tribal authority. NVC solicited ideas for new place names from Chitina Native Corporation and Ahtna, Incorporated, then circulated the resulting suggestions for feedback. NVC then sent the recommendations to The Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force. Ahtna, Inc. also sent a letter supporting those recommendations.”

Ewan explained, “Ts’akae is the Ahtna word meaning “woman”. It replaces a demeaning place-name with a word that simply means woman, minus the insult.”

Ewan continued, “We are encouraged by the decision to replace these offensive place-names-names that are so low in their spirit and intent--with better names. Hopefully with names that are reflective of the rich history, culture, and achievements of our Native people, especially Ahtna women. That would go some way in repairing the historic wrong of these long held, hateful names.”