President Trump's executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico and Denali has sparked discussions regarding the significance of place names. While some view renaming as a minor issue amid larger national concerns, it illuminates the formal processes established for such changes. Typically, local communities propose name changes, which are supported and approved through various state procedures before reaching the Board on Geographic Names for national recognition. Recent examples, like the renaming of a Minneapolis lake to Bde Maka Ska, demonstrate the passion communities have for their geographic identities and histories.
Minnesota recently changed the name of a large lake in Minneapolis to Bde Maka Ska, which the Minneapolis Park Board described as 'a Dakota name for the lake that has been passed down in oral history for many years.'
Usually, renaming a place starts locally. The people in the state or county propose a name change and gather support. The process in each state is different.
#place-names #geographic-names #renaming-process #cultural-significance #us-board-on-geographic-names
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