Harmony Larson News Today

The Bristol Bay Times - Serving Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon and Southwest villages

When three Dillingham middle school students realized a local creek name included a derogatory word, they decided to do something about it. Now, after two years of work, they’ve won the Spirit of Youth humanitarian award.

The Bristol Bay Times - Serving Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon and Southwest villages

One year ago, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland issued a declaration to remove a slur against Indigenous women from place names on federal lands. Nearly 650 new names were finalized this fall, including one for a Dillingham creek that bore the slur.

One year ago, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland issued a declaration to remove a slur against Indigenous women from place names on federal lands. Nearly 650 new names were finalized this fall — including one for a Dillingham creek that bore the slur. Three elementary students in Dillingham had been pushing to change the creek’s name long before the federal government started its process.

The Bristol Bay Times - Serving Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon and Southwest villages

The Curyung Tribe invited community input Saturday on changing the name of a Dillingham stream that bears a derogatory name. The U.S. Department of the Interior public comment period on replacement names for the creek is open through April 25.

Last spring, months before the federal government began steps to change those names, three elementary students wanted to rename a Dillingham creek that uses that slur, as well as a road that bears the creek’s name.

The Bristol Bay Times - Serving Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon and Southwest villages

Last spring, months before the federal government began steps to change those names, three elementary students wanted to rename a Dillingham creek that uses that slur, as well as a road that bears the creek’s name.