Plan to change name of Soap Lake is rejected
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - A state panel has rejected a plan to change the name of Soap Lake to the Salish word for healing waters, Smokiam (smoke-EYE'-um).
The Spokesman-Review reports the state Committee on Geographic Names denied the proposal on Friday.
A proponent of the name change says the ancestors of the Colville Confederated Tribes called the 900-acre body of water Smokiam for 11,000 years.
When white settlers came to the area, they used several different names for the lake. After the town of Soap Lake was incorporated nearby, the lake gradually took on the same name but was never officially changed.
The Colville tribes, who spoke Salish, supported the name change, along with some residents interested in preserving the region's history.
The Spokesman-Review reports the state Committee on Geographic Names denied the proposal on Friday.
A proponent of the name change says the ancestors of the Colville Confederated Tribes called the 900-acre body of water Smokiam for 11,000 years.
When white settlers came to the area, they used several different names for the lake. After the town of Soap Lake was incorporated nearby, the lake gradually took on the same name but was never officially changed.
The Colville tribes, who spoke Salish, supported the name change, along with some residents interested in preserving the region's history.
I am in agreement to rename the lake with a native american name. It will not be long until someone attempts to name it, "Cesar Chavez Lake". This is not a racist comment, it is just fact. On this side of the state when anything is built or renamed, groups want to attach the cesar chavez name to it.
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@John E. Wraughton  Seattle is named after cheif seattle, Mukitieo : means nice place to camp,
Oregon is in the native language meaning beautiful river.
I am 100% all for integrating local history into the names of landmarks in this area. In fact, I recently took a Pacific Northwest history class that highlighted how the Pacific Northwest came to be what it is today. One of the main focuses of the class was the story of the Nez Perce War and mainly the story of Chief Joseph.
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It is heartbreaking how the white settlers came into this area in an attempt to convert the local Native Americans into Christians and to take their land and homes out from under them. Those who didn't agree to go peacefully suffered tremendously. Joseph (Chief Joseph) tried to keep the peace. All he wanted was to stay on the land that he called home (in Oregon) and keep their freedom.
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I won't go into the whole story but if history appeals to you I highly recommend the book, "The Last Indian War: A Nez Perce Story," by Elliot West. It highlights on some great history of this area.
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Oh, and the whole point and how it pertains to this story is that Chief Joseph finally gave in after the Nez Perce war and was relocated to the Colville Reservation and that body of water was called the Smokiam. This IS our history. The way the Native Americans were treated by the white settlers is horrifying. I say we honor our history and the Native Americans whenever we can and change the stupid name! I mean, Soap Lake. Really?
@Tattooed_Angel   mISS YOU DO KNOW THE SO CALLED INDIANS KILLED THE WHITE SETTLERS THAT WERE HERE 9000 + YEARS AGO. CHECK OUT THE KENNEWICK MAN 9000 YEARS OLD AND CAUCASIAN, WILL YOU CRY FOR THOSE POOR WHITES. MAYBE THOSE WHITES CALLED IT SOAP AM LAKE. OR PA GET SOUND OR MT RAN IEEER. IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK FOR YOU'LL FIND THAT THERE ARE SKELETONS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND AND ARE SO CALLED WHITE CHECK OUT LOVELOCK GIANTS 62-69 SKELOTONS FOUND IN CAVE IN LATE 1800 WITH BLONDE HAIR AND RED HAIR. CHEIF WINOMMUCCA.S DAUGHTER CALLED THEM "THE PEOPLE THAT ATE PEOPLE"
i JUST WISH THEY TAUGHT THE CORRECT HISTORY. HOPE THIS SPARKS SOME INTREST IN YOU.
@rapture Would it be possible for you to turn off your cap lock when commenting?
 @Tattooed_Angel I read lots of history and have great respect for Chief Joseph. I have a problem with your statement saying the way "white" settlers treated "Native Americans" was horrifying. It sounds to me like you have read one book written about this time in history. Hundreds if not thousands of settlers were not white and horrific treatment was committed against peace loving settlers just as often as the other way around. If you want to read about really horrific treatment buy a book written concedrning treatment of tribe against tribe.Â
@JT
If I had all day then I would have gone into more detail. I have read more than 1 book on the subject and if you have a problem with the term "white settlers" take that up with American history. Fact is, WHITE SETTLERS came into this area BULLYING their way into getting whatever they wanted. Not only were the Native Americans treated horrifically by these people, so were the Chinese immigrants who were tasked to build the railroads because they were cheaper and harder workers than the WHITE SETTLERS.
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Yes, some Native Americans were violent towards some of these white settlers, whether they were peaceful or not. The Native Americans were bombarded by these people who were taking their land, trying to convert them to Christians, and wiping out villages because of WHITE MAN diseases. Those Native Americans who were lucky enough to survive had to watch everyone they love die, there wasn't a damn thing they could do about it and then they were removed from the land that they cherished because the WHITE SETTLERS felt they were entitled to it.
 @Tattooed_Angel I suggest you read "A Fate Worse Than Death." It's a very well researched book written by Gregory and Susan Michno. By the way, aren't you describing world history?Â
Ive driven through Soap Lake quite a few times over the years. A sleepy town but a beautiful scenic view there.