- Trump floated the name change in recent days as the U.S. announced it was imposing new tariffs on Canadian goods after talks broke down between the countries.
- Trump issued an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to 'Lake America'.
- Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca criticized the decision, citing the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua and calling for the order to be rescinded.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected the move, noting the lake's Indigenous roots and that the name predates both the Canadian Confederation and the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
- Seneca said the renaming violated the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua, which was signed by President George Washington and the Haudenosaunee promising perpetual peace and friendship.
- The name Lake Ontario comes from the Huron Indigenous people's word oniatarí:io, which means lake of shining waters. In the traditional Seneca language, the lake's name is sga:nyodai:yoh, meaning beautiful lake, Seneca said.
- Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca on Friday called for Trump's order to be rescinded and for the Lake Ontario name to remain as a reflection of the Indigenous people in the U.S. and Canada who lived in territory around and along the lake long before the creation of either nation.
- He stated, “The President cannot assert ownership over our culture or erase it through irresponsible political action,” in a statement.
Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca has called for the reversal of President Trump's recent order to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America', citing a violation of the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua. This treaty, signed by President George Washington, promised perpetual peace and friendship with the Haudenosaunee, the Indigenous people of the region.1235678
Seneca criticized the renaming as a 'blatant disrespect' for Indigenous cultures, emphasizing that the lake's name reflects the heritage of those who lived in the area long before the establishment of the U.S. and Canada. He stated, 'The President cannot assert ownership over our culture or erase it through irresponsible political action.'
The name 'Lake Ontario' originates from the Huron Indigenous word 'oniatarí:io', meaning 'lake of shining waters', while in the traditional Seneca language, it is referred to as 'sga:nyodai:yoh', meaning 'beautiful lake'.
Trump's order, part of escalating trade tensions with Canada, is set to take effect in 30 days. Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, have condemned the name change, highlighting its Indigenous roots and historical significance that predates both nations' founding documents.4
“The renaming came as the U.S. imposed new tariffs on Canadian goods, prompting Canada to retaliate and Prime Minister Mark Carney to reject the move, noting the name predates both nations. The lake's name derives from the Huron word 'oniatarí:io', meaning 'lake of shining waters'.”
