You are correct. Native cultures were about living knowledge, and scientific understanding was integrated into their living practices. Lower 48 and central and south American Native people were purposely hybridizing numerous crops at a time when Europeans did not understand cross pollination nor observance of genetic dominance in some plants over others. In fact, various Native people were ahead of Europeans on a few fronts at the time of contact, including the Mayans with astronomy, something they achieved without telescopes.

I'm sure the strait existed a really, really long time before a white man came along and named it after himself or another white guy, as special as that always is.  Personally, I prefer older identifiers in both Native and ancient European cultures where places are named after their own qualities, or named in relationship to something else natural.   Keeps the hubris better in check.