Dallas Lakes Renamed After Historic Native Tribes in Unanimous Council Vote
The Dallas City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to rename three West Dallas lakes in honor of historic Native American tribes from North Texas.
The new names — Comanche Nahmi Lake, Wichita ita:iʔh Lake, and Lipan Apache Mbátí Lake — combine tribal identities with Native words for 'sister.'
The change, which applies to lakes along the Trinity River, was met with praise during public comment.
'You're not only recognizing our heritage, you're bringing visibility to the Native community of Dallas and North Texas,' said Rachel Salinas, a councilwoman for the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas. 'These lakes will benefit families across Dallas for generations to come.'
She reminded the council that her tribe is state-recognized and has lived under 'all Six Flags of Texas.'
'We are a historic state recognized tribe of Texas. We have lived under all Six Flags of Texas and have fought alongside Texas in defense of this land. Our contributions are part of Texas history,' Salinas said.
Mark Smith, a Cherokee Nation member and former Dallas resident, called the vote more than just bureaucratic business.
'It's how we affirm our identity, history and presence. These lakes are more than bodies of water. They're spaces where communities gather, where urban families experience nature,' he added.
'They're shared public spaces. Giving them meaningful names is a way of making sure that everyone in Dallas feels seen and included in our city story. We often talk about equity, about inclusion. Naming is one of the most visible public ways to demonstrate these values.'
While all council members voted in favor of the renaming, Council Member Cara Mendelsohn of District 12 urged city staff to consider public clarity, emergency access, and historical education when finalizing signage.
'I just hope that there'll be some consideration to making sure that it's pronounceable, that there's easy wayfinding and emergency services can find those locations.'
Finally, Mendelsohn added that she hopes additional signage will be installed to aid both emergency services and public education on tribal history.
'I would wonder if there isn't a means to put some sort of historic marker to explain the significance and the meaning of what each of these lakes are, and why?' she said.
'I think it has an incredible history for Dallas. I think people would be interested. And so I hope that that greater context will be added, whether that's through a nonprofit or through the city.'
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