Context:

Little Kiska Island in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, a site of Japanese occupation during World War II, had a creek named Nazi Creek, which was the only U.S. geographic feature with 'Nazi' in its name. This name, assigned by the U.S. Army Air Forces, was recently changed to Kaxchim Chiĝanaa, meaning 'gizzard creek' in the language of the Indigenous Unangax̂ people, to honor local heritage and remove the association with Nazi Germany. The name change was supported by various local and national entities, gaining momentum after the Alaska Historical Commission's unanimous vote. The renaming reflects a broader movement to replace derogatory or inappropriate place names with those that respect Indigenous cultures and histories. The U.S. Geological Survey has updated its databases, and the campaign has been widely endorsed by Native tribes, residents, and heritage organizations.

Dive Deeper:

• Little Kiska Island was captured by the Japanese military in June 1942 during World War II, leading to an American designation of a one-mile creek as Nazi Creek, a name chosen for tactical purposes by the U.S. Army Air Forces.

• The original name persisted for over 70 years as the only geographic feature in the U.S. with 'Nazi' in its name, despite being arbitrarily applied and having no direct connection to Nazi Germany.

• In a push to honor Indigenous heritage, the creek was renamed Kaxchim Chiĝanaa, meaning 'gizzard creek' in Unangam Tunuu, reflecting the traditional name for Little Kiska Island used by the Unangax̂ people.

• The name change initiative, supported by local Native tribes, cultural institutions, and heritage groups, aligns with broader efforts to replace offensive or inappropriate names with those that respect Indigenous histories.

• The U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the new names for the creek and an elevation previously named Nip Hill, enabling official updates to federal and commercial maps.

• The campaign gained significant traction following a unanimous vote by the Alaska Historical Commission, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and respecting the cultural significance of names.

• The renaming process not only removes a controversial name but also serves as a gesture of respect and recognition for the Unangax̂ people, who endured evacuation and harsh conditions during the war.