On going discussions since October on changing the name of a 1,200-foot dirt road, the supervisors reaffirmed their original recommendation: Demtatoko Trail, using the Tosidum Maidu name for Ceanothus prostratus, also called mahala mat or pinemat.
California Assembly Bill 2022 requires renaming all geographic place names that include “sq_,” a sexist and racist slur insulting to most Native American tribes. The Plumas County road east of Antelope Lake is one of 43 features in the state subject to renaming under the bill.
The state board favored a name submitted by Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians and asked the Plumas supervisors to reconsider. They did, justifying why they continued to prefer Demtatoko, submitted by Harla Lee and Danny Manning, both Mountain Maidu tribal members.
After consultation with Harvey Marino, Maidu Summit Consortium cultural resource coordinator, Plumas County Planning Director Tracey Ferguson told the supervisors the Mooretown officials deferred to the Plumas Maidu members. The supervisors asked Ferguson to prepare a resolution recommending “Demtatoko Bo” as the replacement name. “Bo” is the Maidu name for “Trail.”
In response to a question from Engel, Ferguson said her staff has committed around 40 hours to resolving the name-change issue.
