Our Beloved Kin: Remapping A New History of King Philip's WarMain MenuAbout the ProjectStart GuideNavigate Alongside the BookNavigate by PathAll MediaConnectionsContributorsTeacher ResourcesComing soon!Lisa Brooksfec693e828c406419bf2b9fc046e7ea8bc7558cbdeveloped in collaboration with irLhumanities
Squa sachem
12017-05-29T18:42:08+00:00Marisa Parham0b3989f8b160e074aa2cff76ed0bc80e7e72fc1761plain2017-05-29T18:42:08+00:00Marisa Parham0b3989f8b160e074aa2cff76ed0bc80e7e72fc17"Squa sachem" was the common English transliteration of Saunkskwa, with "skwa" or "squa" being the suffix in Algonquian languages that denotes female. For example, in the Abenaki language, nolkaskwa means "deer woman." The word Saunkskwa (female leader, rock woman), like many other similar words in Algonquian languages, associated women with positive power and leadership. Settlers later transformed that suffix to a derogatory slur, changing the original meaning to a demeaning offensive insult that suggested Native women were "drudges," inferior to white women. Some Algonquian women have challenged and reclaimed the word "squa," although it remains controversial because of racist usage.