JUNEAU, Alaska — On Monday, the Alaska House took a stand by voting in favor of urging President Donald Trump to maintain the name Denali for North America’s tallest mountain. This decision follows Trump’s executive order issued on his first day in office, which proposed reverting the mountain’s name back to Mount McKinley. This move revived a previously contested proposal that has faced opposition from many Alaskans as well as the state’s Republican U.S. senators.
The House’s vote resulted in 28 members endorsing the resolution while 10 opposed it, though there are plans for a reconsideration, which means it could be voted on again prior to being sent to the state Senate. The majority coalition in the Alaska House consists primarily of Democrats, with some independents and two Republicans included. The resolution was introduced by Democratic Representative Maxine Dibert, who is of Koyukon Athabascan descent. She emphasized that the name Denali translates to “the high one” and carries rich meanings beyond mere nomenclature.
“It represents a rich history, a vibrant culture, and an element of respect,” Dibert expressed passionately. Minority Republicans in the House attempted to amend the resolution to include an acknowledgment of gratitude for Trump’s other executive orders aimed at enhancing oil and gas exploration, as well as mining and logging initiatives in Alaska. Some GOP members argued that such a gesture would lay a positive foundation for their first official message to Trump’s administration.
Republican Representative Kevin McCabe suggested that by adding supportive sentiments regarding resource management, the resolution could be made stronger, stating, “Perhaps this approach could help us unite on this resolution and send a clear message: ‘Thank you, President Trump, for your support, and please reconsider the renaming of Denali.’”
The mountain, originally dubbed Mount McKinley in 1896 by a prospector seeking to honor then-presidential candidate William McKinley of Ohio, had never been visited by McKinley himself. The name was officially adopted by the U.S. government until 2015, when the Obama administration changed it back to Denali, honoring the preferences of numerous Alaskans and reflecting the cultural significance of the name to the local Native populations. The striking 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) mountain, located in Denali National Park and Preserve, can be viewed from hundreds of miles away on clear days.
Recently, the Interior Department announced that efforts to implement Trump’s renaming directive have begun. However, many state leaders are not convinced that the matter is fully resolved. Alaska Republican Senator Dan Sullivan expressed his support for Denali, stating, “I prefer the name given by the proud and strong Athabascan people thousands of years ago: Denali. We will maintain dialogue with the Trump administration on this matter going forward.” Additionally, Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy indicated his intention to discuss the mountain’s name with the president when they meet next month in Washington.
