Federal officials on Thursday unanimously approved the renaming of two natural features on Alaska’s Little Kiska Island, removing World War II-era names considered offensive and replacing them with Indigenous terms. This change marks a significant step towards restoring cultural respect and historical accuracy in the Aleutian Islands.
New Names for Historical Respect
The United States Board on Geographic Names voted 17-0 to rename Nazi Creek to Kaxchim Chiĝanaa, which translates to ‘Gizzard Creek’ or ‘Creek belonging to Gizzard Island’ in Unangam Tunuu, according to a report by the Alaska Beacon. A nearby summit, previously known by a slur for Japanese people, has been renamed Kaxchim Qayaa, or ‘Gizzard Hill’. Both names reflect traditional Indigenous terminology for Little Kiska Island.
Community Support for Change
Michael Livingston, a member of the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska, led the campaign for the name change. Quoted by SF Gate, he expressed that the community elders were pleased with the new names. “It’s about making things better for our community,” Livingston stated.
His efforts received backing from local Native tribes, cultural institutions, and civil rights organizations, including the Museum of the Aleutians, Congregation Beth Sholom of Anchorage, and the Alaska chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League.
The Problem with Old Names
The former names date back to a 1953 US Army map, where cartographers assigned arbitrary names based on alphabetical order—a practice critics labeled as dismissive and harmful. Livingston noted that these offensive terms were removed after World War II but reappeared in mapping databases during the 2010s due to the unvetted digitization of older maps.
The Aleutian Islands saw significant military action during World War II, including the Japanese occupation of Attu and Kiska Islands. The US government forcibly relocated many Indigenous Unangax̂ people to poorly maintained internment camps, resulting in numerous deaths from illness and neglect. Federal reparations for these actions were granted in 1988, alongside payments to Japanese Americans who were interned during the war.
Continuing the Mission for Change
Livingston, a former police captain, was inspired to push for accurate mapping after experiencing a delayed emergency response in Anchorage in 2002, partly due to map inaccuracies. While reviewing outdated maps, he was appalled to find Nazi Creek still in use.
He told SF Gate that seeing ‘Nazi’ on a map in 2020s America was “unthinkable.” His next target is Quisling Cove, a body of water named after Norwegian Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling, which is currently under review for renaming.
