Pacific nation of Nauru wants to change its name as it moves on from colonial past
Island may soon be called Naoero – an Indigenous name that honours the country’s heritage and identity
TL;DR
- Nauru, the world's smallest republic, is considering changing its name to 'Naoero'.
- The proposed name 'Naoero' is the Indigenous term used by Nauruans in their own language.
- The government states the change aims to 'more faithfully honour our nation’s heritage, our language, and our identity'.
- The proposal has passed Nauru's parliament unopposed and will be put to a referendum.
- Experts view the name change as an act of decolonization and a way to assert sovereignty and promote language revitalization.
- Nauru's language is officially classified as 'severely endangered'.
- The name 'Naoero' has already been adopted by the postal service, national health service, and utility provider in Nauru.