In August 2020, an offensively named public agency in a small town near Lake Tahoe voted unanimously to change its name to Olympic Valley Public Service District. Its namesake ski resort is also dropping the racial slur from its name, though it hasn’t picked a new one yet (as of production time). In this episode, we explore the violent history contained in the “S-word,” what led to getting rid of it, and how the change opens a door to healing for the Washoe people driven from their ancestral lands.
Sharing their stories and research in this episode are Helen Fillmore, Washoe and Patrick Burtt, Washoe.