In a move that highlights the ongoing debate over heritage and historical recognition, Alaska's Republican U.S. Senators, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, have introduced a bill aiming to restore North America's tallest peak's name to Denali. This legislative effort comes on the heels of an executive order by former President Donald Trump, which proposed reverting the mountain's name to Mount McKinley.
Denali, a majestic 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) peak located in the Denali National Park and Preserve, has long been a symbol of Alaskan identity. The mountain's name, derived from the Koyukon Athabascan language, means 'The Great One.' Senator Murkowski emphasized the cultural significance of the name Denali, stating that Alaskans have universally advocated for the name that resonates deeply with their heritage, beyond political discourse.
The name Mount McKinley traces back to 1896, when a prospector, in honor of William McKinley who became the 25th U.S. president, named the peak. McKinley, hailing from Ohio, never set foot in Alaska. This historical backdrop created a longstanding contention between Alaskan representation, who preferred the name Denali, and Ohio lawmakers who supported the McKinley designation.
In 2015, a significant development occurred when then-President Barack Obama’s Interior Secretary, Sally Jewell, officially renamed the mountain to Denali. This decision was warmly received by Alaskan natives and residents who felt it acknowledged their traditions and cultural ties. Despite the change, President Trump's inaugural executive order sought to revert this decision, citing the change as a dismissive gesture towards President McKinley's legacy.
Senator Dan Sullivan, cosponsor of the recent bill and representing a constituency passionately supportive of retaining Denali, acknowledges personal ties to the Athabascans through his wife. He and Murkowski earlier vocally resisted the 2017 dialogue on renaming the peak back to McKinley during Trump's presidency.
The debate over the mountain’s name reflects broader themes of cultural respect and historical narratives in the U.S., emphasizing the balance between traditional recognition and political acts. The Alaskan legislature recently passed a resolution urging the retaining of Denali, highlighting bipartisan support within the state.
Amid this backdrop, spokesperson J. Elizabeth Peace of the U.S. Interior Department noted that the proposed name change to Mount McKinley was on the verge of completion, as outlined in Trump's order, but emphasized that the agency does not comment on legislative proposals. Joe Plesha, speaking on behalf of Murkowski, clarified that the newly introduced bill does not block Trump's order but rather seeks to counteract it through legislative processes.
This ongoing narrative not only illustrates the strong local and cultural ties to Denali but also brings to light the continuing discussions on how heritage is integrated into modern governance, historical remembrance, and identity politics. With strong support from Alaska's senators and public sentiment, the fate of Denali’s name remains a potent state and national issue.