United States Board on Geographic Names

The name “Nazi Creek” will no longer be used for federal databases or maps. On Thursday, the Domestic Names Committee for the U.S. Board on Geographic Names voted unanimously to rename Alaska’s Nazi Creek to “Kaxchim Chiĝanaa.” In English, the name can be translated to “creek or river belonging to Kangchix̂ or gizzard island” or “gizzard creek,” and reflects the Unangax̂ name for the island of Little Kiska, which sits about 240 miles east of Attu, in the Western Aleutians.

Michael Livingston is proposing Nazi Creek on Little Kiska Island be renamed to reflect the island’s Unangax̂ name — “Kangchix̂,” which translates to gizzard. The map enthusiast said he’s not certain where the island’s traditional name comes from, but he has some theories.