In 2015, the U.S. government officially changed the name of North America's highest mountain from Mount McKinley to Denali, paying homage to the sacred status it holds for many Alaska Natives. The decision, made during Barack Obama's presidency, sought to correct the 1917 designation that honored the 25th President of the United States, William McKinley, who held controversial views on native populations. This shift aimed to acknowledge the historical and cultural significance of the name Denali, as used by the Koyukon Athabascan group for centuries. However, when Donald Trump pledged to revert the name back to Mount McKinley during his presidency, it ignited a wave of backlash among Indigenous Alaskans and lawmakers across the state.
The move to rename the mountain Denali was met with widespread approval in Alaska. Research indicated that Alaskans favored retaining the name Denali over Mount McKinley by a two-to-one margin. Despite this, the debate remains heated. Trump's announcement to revert the name drew criticism from notable figures, including Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who strongly opposed the decision. Meanwhile, Dan Sullivan, another Republican senator from Alaska, expressed his support for Trump's initiative.
“I prefer the name Denali that was given to that great mountain by the great patriotic Koyukon Athabascan people thousands of years ago.” – Dan Sullivan
Alaska's Indigenous communities have long advocated for the recognition of Denali, highlighting its cultural and spiritual importance. Emily Edenshaw, a voice for Alaska Native peoples, emphasized the importance of maintaining the name Denali as a tribute to their enduring contributions.
“Keeping this name honors that connection and recognizes the enduring contributions of Alaska Native peoples.” – Emily Edenshaw
The choice to honor McKinley through the mountain's previous naming has been particularly divisive due to his documented racist views on native populations.
“We could not leave them [the Native people] to themselves – they were unfit for self-government,” – McKinley
“There was nothing left for us to do but to take them … uplift and civilize and Christianize them and by God’s grace do the very best we could by them.” – McKinley
Massee McKinley, great-great nephew of William McKinley, has argued in favor of his ancestor's legacy being tied to the mountain, believing that William McKinley deserves this honor.