Remnants of racism remain in the Oneida County Township of Cassian as a call to people of goodwill to stand against cruel and insulting taunts directed at Native Americans.
Halfbreed Rapids is located about 20 miles west of Rhinelander on the Tomahawk River. The name Halfbreed Rapids is a constant reminder to Indigenous neighbors that Wisconsin’s beautiful northwoods is not totally populated by people of goodwill.
It’s long overdue for the Township of Cassian, the Oneida County Board of Supervisors, Wisconsin’s state legislature and all who wish to build better friendships and goodwill with Native Americans to change this inappropriate and offensive name.
Name-calling is one of the first signs of a bully. The people of Cassian and all of Oneida County are condoning a form of bullying every single day this name continues to be used.
Halfbreed Rapids is located near the Lac du Flambeau Reservation and is within ceded territory taken from the Ojibwe Nation by the US government. Reparations for lost lands would be justice for all Indigenous peoples from whom so much has been taken.
However, a token first step should be removing offensive, often sexist, always degrading names from rivers, lakes and waterfalls.
The Town of Cassian and all of Oneida County can offer a token sign of friendship and goodwill by removing this remnant of racism from usage. It’s time to re-name Halfbreed Rapids.
Roger Utnehmer, Wausau
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Rude name for part of Tomahawk River must be dropped | Letter
Reporting by Letters to the Editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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