In a recent proposal, a Republican congressman from Pennsylvania is advocating for a name change of Lake Erie to “Lake Pennsylvania.” This initiative follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s order to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America. Congressman David Maloney emphasized the significance of the lake’s “modern identity” in a statement released earlier this week. He expressed intentions to present a resolution to the U.S. House of Representatives, urging the president, Congress, and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to support the name alteration.
Maloney highlighted Pennsylvania’s sole possession of one Great Lake and emphasized the importance of associating the state’s name with it, particularly in terms of fishing and tourism activities that revolve around the lake. Ohio’s abundant shoreline, New York’s possession of two Great Lakes, and Canada’s ownership of four other Great Lakes were pointed out by Maloney to support the renaming proposal. Michigan is noted as the fourth state bordering Lake Erie.
Despite the proposal, officials representing the Lake Erie shoreline were reserved in providing comments. Trevor Jones, the MPP for Chatham-Kent—Leamington in Ontario, declined to comment on the matter at this time. Similarly, MP Dave Epp’s office stated his unavailability for comment or interview due to prior commitments.
Ken Drouillard, a University of Windsor professor specializing in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, expressed concerns over the renaming of historically significant places like the Great Lakes. Drouillard emphasized the importance of names in connecting people to places and their history, citing the risk of losing cultural connections with such changes. He noted that Lake Erie’s name has deep roots in First Nation naming conventions predating the U.S. and Canada, underlining the historical and cultural significance of the region.
Additionally, Drouillard highlighted Lake Erie’s pivotal role in the early westward migration and settlement of the U.S. Midwest. He questioned the potential implications of renaming Lake Erie on historical landmarks like the Erie Canal, which played a crucial role in connecting Lake Erie to the Hudson River and the New York City Port. The name Erie itself is derived from the Indigenous term “erielhonan,” meaning “long tail.”
The proposed renaming of Lake Erie has sparked discussions about the broader implications of altering long-standing geographical names and their cultural significance. The debate continues as stakeholders weigh the potential impacts of such changes on the region’s historical context and identity.
