The Task of Renaming Negro Creek

388 S. Grand Mesa Dr,Cedaredge CO 81413

30 June, 2022

Description

About three years ago, Delta County Commissioner Don Suppes proposed the idea for CHS students to rename a creek and mesa that were deemed derogatory racial names by the State of Colorado in late 2019. The student council asked the students of CHS to suggest names, which the school then voted on. The majority of students chose the name ¨Clay Creek” and “Clay Mesa¨ because it represents the geography of the area, which is full of clay. The Student Council revisited the progress of the renaming in January 2022 and discovered that the Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board did not approve of our suggested name change. The student council decided to find a new name that would make the naming advisory happy. So, the Student Council researched Western Slope history and contacted members of the community in an attempt to find a more appropriate name. The students within the student council got their first taste of how the American government works and how to make a difference within the community. This presentation, led by CHS student council member Alexia Funk, will deep dive into the steps the students made to try and get the creek and mesa renamed, and the history they learned along the way. Photo above of students on site visit courtesy of Don Suppes