The name of a small island on Canandaigua Lake in Ontario County has been changed because the former name contained a derogatory word.
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved changing the name of Squaw Island to Skenoh Island last week. The island, which is less than a quarter acre in size, is the smallest state park in New York.
The new name is from a Seneca dialect. It can be translated to mean "peace." The state department of Environmental Conservation said the name change "is supported by the Seneca Nation, DEC and various local municipalities."
The name change takes effect immediately. Federal maps will be updated with the change in the normal revision cycle.
A 160-acre island with a similar name in Buffalo was also changed, this time to Unity Island in July 2015.
WBFO's Marian Hetherly contributed to this story.
