The Suburban Times

A community bulletin board for Western Pierce County.

What's Next, Tahoma Beer? – Name Changes . . . for the good

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Over Sunday morning coffee with Bailey’s Irish Cream I read the excellent News Tribune article “It’s Tahoma, not Rainier; change mountain name” by Don Meyer and Jared Faker. Meyer and Faker made the argument that the name of our local iconic mountain should be changed back to the name given to it by the Puyallup Tribe.

“Instead of naming the mountain after someone who never set foot in Washington, we should use the Tahoma name to honor the indigenous people who lived in the region long before there was a City of Tacoma, a State of Washington or a Port of Tacoma.” The article also points out that Admiral Rainier (our mountain’s namesake) fought against our country and killed Americans during the Revolutionary War. This comes at a great time, when we will probably see Joe Biden, our new U.S. President, erase the Confederate officers names from our military bases in favor of heroes who fought for our country, not against it.

Sunday morning I read the excellent News Tribune article “It’s Tahoma, not Rainier; change mountain name” by Don Meyer and Jared Faker.

I like to see our American heroes and our local natural wonders take on a meaningful presence. For example, I created a quintessential painting called Washington Crossing the Puyallup, which combines General Washington (and first U.S. President), daffodils, madrona trees, steelhead fishing, and the Puyallup River. Tahoma is the Puyallup tribal name for “Mother of Waters.”

I created a quintessential painting called Washington Crossing the Puyallup.

Let’s change the name of our mountain so we can share the beauty, the history, and the joy of Mount Tahoma with our area’s original inhabitants.

The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.

Comments

  2. As someone who once loved Rainier beer and grew up only knowing the mountain majesty as Rainier . . . Tahoma is the only way I’ll address her going forward. It’s the rightful name and the infinitely more beautiful name.

    • Kev,
      Thanks for commenting.
      It works for me, too. I would like to know what the other tribes call the mountain, however . . . just curious . . . I think the language covers most of them.
      Thanks for sharing.
      Don

  3. It would not be the end of the world to change Mount Rainiers name similar to how Mount Mckinley changed to Denali a couple years ago.

    However, Many different tribes referred to Mount Rainier as different names. What name should be chosen and what if one tribe is offended that their name was not selected?

    Furthermore would referring to Mount Rainier as Mount Rainier after a name change be considered racist? If so The Tacoma Rainiers would need to be banned as well as Rainier beer, the rainier building in seattle or many other organizations and groups that have the name Rainier.

    Name change sounds simple but could end up being a slippery slope.

    I think the name Tahoma sounds nice but am personally used to the name Rainier. Either way the mountain is beautiful! I just don’t want the mountain to lose its beauty over what name we call it.

    If we change the name lets be kind to one another if we refer to it differently. After all, it has been referred as many different names including amongst local tribes.

    • Brett,
      Thank you for commenting. You have some excellent points to ponder. When I was a member of the Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce the major sponsor of the Washington State Jaycees was Rainier Beer. Here in Tacoma we relied on Heidelberg Brewery for support . . . and sport. Your statement about other tribes and their names for Mt Rainier does need consideration for sure. I wonder if there was a polling of all the indigenous people of Alaska before the name change. Interesting.
      Thanks for the well thought out letter. Thanks for sharing.
      Don

    • These are excellent considerations. Thank you for presenting these in such a cogent, non-confrontational manner.

      • Mary,
        Thanks for commenting. Wow, I haven’t heard the word “cogent” mentioned about my articles in some time . . . maybe never. I think the name change is something that people should discuss and consider.
        Thanks for sharing.
        Don

  4. I simply wish the cancel culture would be canceled out.

    The continual push to rename things and places in order to relieve so called guilt is simply alarming. I dare ask, where do we draw the line? Rename Puget Sound? The Columbia River? Mt. St. Helens? Let us not forget or forgive Vancouver, Gray’s Harbor, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Cape Flattery and anything named Clark or Lewis. For that matter, the State that is named after a slave owner.

    Oh, and many States on the East Coast named after the nation we defeated to become a new nation (York, Virginia, the Carolinas)? Cheer on the Tacoma Tahomas…. or would that be Tahoma Tahomas?

    • Paul,
      I always love your comments. You are right, but the kicker for me from the original article was the fact the Rainier fought in the American Revolution for the British and killed Americans . . . and I time when it is time that we changed (I believe anyway) the military base names that are named in honor of those who fought against our country.
      Thanks for sharing.
      Don

    • I to am sick of renaming things. I was born and raised in Washington leave mt Rainier alone

      • Marilyn,
        Thanks for commenting. I wasn’t born in Washington, but arrived here from Missouri when I was two . . . so, it’s like almost forever. I appreciate your feelings and comments. A number of people feel the same way. As they say, what’s in a name? My wife and I still marvel at the beauty of Mt Rainier each time we see it . . . even when it just peeks at us from behind the clouds.
        Thanks for sharing.
        Don

      • Dave,
        Thanks for commenting.
        Things change. We can’t change the past or the future. The present is always a possibility, however. With Rainier , Tahoma, or Tea-Swak we still have The Mountain we love and smile over.
        Thanks for sharing.
        Don

  8. ABSOLUTELY AGREE,I THOUGHT THAT IT SHOULD BE CHANGED BACK WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE TRUTH IN GRADE SCHOOL IN THE 50S….

  11. Cancel culture occurred with the renaming of Puget Sound, Mt. Rainier, etc. Let’s get our history straight.

    • Gail,
      Thanks for commenting. Getting the history straight? History isn’t always right, but it all comes down to what makes us comfortable.
      Thanks for sharing.
      Don