The U.S. Department of the Interior is currently seeking public comment on replacement names for geographical features that include the offensive racial slur “s**aw.”

This comes after Secretary Deb Haaland signed Secretarial Order 3404 in November 2021, declaring the S-word a derogatory term and implementing procedures to remove the word from use on federal geographic features and lands.

Today on the show, guest host Bert Zipperer speaks with Dr. Lisa Poupart, professor of First Nations studies at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and a member of the Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Anishinaabeg, to learn about the history of the S-word as a racial slur and why it’s so important that the U.S. publicly eradicates it from the map.

Along the way, they talk about slow changes to stereotypical portrayals of Native Americans in products and media, the mascot debate, raising awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, the rise of land acknowledgments, and the First Nations program at UW–Green Bay.

Lisa Poupart is a member of the Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Anishinaabeg and an associate professor of First Nations studies, women’s and gender studies, and humanities at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. Dr. Poupart’s work is concerned with healing First Nations generational historic trauma. She is also involved in a number of initiatives to standardize First Nations studies curriculum in K–16.

The public can submit comments about this issue to the Department of the Interior by April 25, 2022 by either of the following methods:

* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Submit written comments online at www.regulations.gov by entering “DOI-2022-0001” in the Search bar and clicking “Search.” You can also navigate directly to the comment page here: www.regulations.gov/commenton/DOI-2022-0001-0001

* Submit Comments By Mail To: Reconciliation of Derogatory Geographic Names, MS-511, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192.

Note: All submissions must include Docket Number DOI-2022-0001. All comments received will be posted without change to