SEATTLE (AP) – A group of eastern Washington tribes is considering a name change to reclaim their indigenous identity.
KUOW-FM reports that Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation's public affairs officer, Meghan Francis, said there's really no connection to the name Colville, a Scottish businessman best known for governing the Hudson Bay Company.
Fort Colville was named for him. It was flooded during construction of the Grand Coulee Dam. His name was given to 12 bands that make up the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
In the next few weeks, the Colville Tribal Council will send ballots to nearly 9,500 tribal citizens across the region with the question: should they change the name or not?
Ballots will be counted in February. If the referendum is approved, the name changing process will begin this spring.
–
Information from: KUOW-FM, http://www.kuow.org/