President-Elect Donald Trump’s plan to revert North America’s tallest peak, Denali, back to Mount McKinley has sparked backlash in Alaska. This move would undo a 2015 order by Obama’s administration that formalized Denali as the official name for the 20,310-foot peak. Denali, meaning “The High One,” is a name derived from the language of Alaska’s Koyukon Athabascan people.
Alaska politicians, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski and State Sen. Scott Kawasaki, have expressed strong opposition to Trump’s proposal, emphasizing the importance of honoring traditional Indigenous names. The Denali-McKinley name debate dates back years, with the state’s preference for Denali being formalized in 1975 by the Alaska Board of Geographic Names.
Trump’s plan brings unresolved tensions between Alaska and Ohio, McKinley’s home state, to the forefront. While McKinley never visited Alaska, his name was associated with the mountain in 1896. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names had long been petitioned to change the mountain’s name to Denali, reflecting its Indigenous roots.
Additionally, Trump’s renewed interest in purchasing Greenland further highlights his controversial proposals concerning circumpolar Indigenous people. Greenland, a self-governing territory primarily inhabited by Inuit, holds historical and cultural significance beyond geopolitical considerations.
The Denali-McKinley switch and Trump’s Greenland proposals underscore the ongoing challenges in navigating cultural identities and historical legacies. As the debate reignites, Alaskans remain united in their support for honoring Indigenous names and rejecting attempts to erase traditional markers of identity.
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Photo credit alaskabeacon.com
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