On September 8, 2026, I submitted the following shareholder proposal to Apple Inc., regarding the renaming of Lake Ontario and The Gulf of Mexico. I asked in the proposal that the names “Gulf of Mexico” and “Lake Ontario” be restored to Apple Maps.
This is the proposal and supporting statement:
Resolved: Shareholders request that the Board of Directors of Apple Inc. take appropriate steps to restore “Gulf of Mexico” and “Lake Ontario” as the primary names displayed in Apple Maps for users in the United States, while permitting supplementary display of alternative names where appropriate or legally required.
Supporting Statement
Apple Maps is a global geographic information service whose value depends on accuracy, consistency, and the confidence users place in the information it presents.
Apple has replaced the longstanding names Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario with “Gulf of America” and “Lake America” for U.S. users. The proponent believes these changes unnecessarily associate Apple with politically contested naming decisions and undermine the trust of customers who expect a mapping service to reflect established geographic usage.
The name Ontario is derived from an Indigenous Iroquoian word and predates the creation of both the United States and Canada. It reflects the history, languages, and enduring relationship of Indigenous peoples with the lake. The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne and Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe have publicly opposed the renaming, emphasizing the cultural significance of the original name.
The proponent considers the replacement of this Indigenous-derived name with “Lake America” an affront to Indigenous peoples and their cultural heritage. It disregards the historical identity of a lake that Indigenous nations named and knew long before modern national borders existed. Apple should not participate in the erasure of that history merely to conform to a politically motivated naming decision.
Lake Ontario is also shared by the United States and Canada. Neither country has exclusive authority over its international identity. Similarly, the Gulf of Mexico is a longstanding geographic name recognized internationally and associated with multiple countries.
Restoring the established names would not prevent Apple from acknowledging alternative governmental designations. Such names could be displayed secondarily where appropriate, without replacing the primary names familiar to generations of users.
The requested action would demonstrate respect for Indigenous heritage, established geographic usage, international neighbors, and Apple’s global customer base. It would also reduce the reputational risks associated with adopting politically contested names.
No federal law requires Apple to use these alternative geographic names. Apple therefore retains the discretion to restore the established names as the primary labels. This proposal asks the Board to exercise that discretion in a manner that appropriately considers historical accuracy, Indigenous cultural heritage, international usage, customer trust, and reputational risk.
