Denali or Mount McKinley? This essay explores the controversy of renaming significant historical sites and the cultural differences between Native Americans and whites in recognizing those sites. Central to this issue was the question of whether sites should be given names that reflect indigenous culture or names that reflect the culture of European settlers. (1) On the eve of the National Park Service's 100th anniversary, the name of the highest peak in North America changed from "Mount McKinley" to "Denali." The timing of the change not only helps mark the agency's centennial, it shines a light on the long human history of the park, and illuminates a naming debate that has lasted more than 100 years. Origins of the Name Controversy (2) On January 13th, 1916, hunter-naturalist Charles Sheldon made an appeal to Thomas Riggs of the Alaska Engineering Commission regarding the naming of the park and its crown jewel: (3) "I hope that in the bill you will call it 'Mt Denali National Park' so that the true old Indian [sic] name of Mt McKinley (meaning 'the Great One') will thus be preserved." (4) On the same day that Sheldon sent his letter, mountaineer Belmore Browne also wrote to Riggs about the naming of the park and was unequivocal1 in his language, referring to the proposed park as "Denali National Park." (5) Riggs disagreed with Sheldon and Browne. In his reply to Browne, Riggs declared: (6) "I don't like the name of Denali. It is not descriptive. Everybody in the United States knows of Mt. McKinley and the various efforts made to climb it. In consequence, both Mr. Yard and I think that the name McKinley should stick. . . . " (7) "Mount McKinley National Park" officially prevailed after its legislation was signed into law on February 26, 1917. (8) It proved difficult to supplant2 words and meanings that endured for generations among Athabaskan3 groups living in close proximity to the mountain. Athabaskan words for the mountain translate to "the tall one" or "mountain-big" (perhaps Riggs did not know the Native words were descriptive). "McKinley" was incompatible with the Athabaskan worldview because they rarely name places after people. Renaming Effort Begins (9) In 1975, the name controversy reemerged when the State of Alaska petitioned the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (USBGN) to change the name of the mountain to Denali officially. Unfortunately for Alaskans, the Ohio congressional delegation (representing former-President McKinley's home state) blocked their efforts for the next four decades. (10) In 1980, momentum continued to favor the name Denali after the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act changed the park's name to Denali National Park and Preserve. But the official name of the mountain remained Mount McKinley. (11) Name-change efforts led by Alaskan politicians continued to be thwarted4 by Congress until President Barack Obama and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell took action in 2015 to restore the name Denali to the mountain. . . . The Origin of Names (12) No fewer than nine Native groups, from time immemorial,5 have used unique names for the mountain. There are five Athabaskan languages surrounding the park, each with its own oral place name. According to University of Alaska linguist James Kari, the groups to the north and west of the mountain (and Alaska Range) use words that translate to "the tall one." The Athabaskan languages to the south of the mountain use words that mean "mountain-big." The name "Denali" stems from "deenaalee," which is from the Koyukon6 language traditionally spoken on the north side. . . . (13) In 1930, Sheldon's The Wilderness of Denali was published and the memoir closes by making another case for the mountain's name: (14) "The Indians [sic] who have lived for countless generations in the presence of these colossal7 mountains have given them names that are both euphonious8 and appropriate . . . Can it be denied that the names they gave to the most imposing features of their country should be preserved? Can it be too late to make an exception to current geographic rules and restore these beautiful names—names so expressive of the mountains themselves, and so symbolic of the Indians who bestowed them?" 1   Select the correct answer. What support does Thomas Riggs provide for the counterclaim that Mt. McKinley should not be renamed? A.  The name "Denali" is not descriptive. B.  Nobody knows what the word "Denali" means. C.  "Mount McKinley" is easier to pronounce than "Denali." D.  "Mount McKinley" is the original name of the mountain. Which statement is the most relevant evidence in support of changing the name to "Denali" A.  The mountain is contained within a recognized U.S. national park. B.  Various people wanted to adopt the name beginning in at least 1916. C.  McKinley was a United States president. D.  At least nine Native American groups have had names for the mountain.

Denali or Mount McKinley?

This essay explores the controversy of renaming significant historical sites and the cultural differences between Native Americans and whites in recognizing those sites. Central to this issue was the question of whether sites should be given names that reflect indigenous culture or names that reflect the culture of European settlers.

(1) On the eve of the National Park Service's 100th anniversary, the name of the highest peak in North America changed from "Mount McKinley" to "Denali." The timing of the change not only helps mark the agency's centennial, it shines a light on the long human history of the park, and illuminates a naming debate that has lasted more than 100 years.

Origins of the Name Controversy

(2) On January 13th, 1916, hunter-naturalist Charles Sheldon made an appeal to Thomas Riggs of the Alaska Engineering Commission regarding the naming of the park and its crown jewel:

(3) "I hope that in the bill you will call it 'Mt Denali National Park' so that the true old Indian [sic] name of Mt McKinley (meaning 'the Great One') will thus be preserved."

(4) On the same day that Sheldon sent his letter, mountaineer Belmore Browne also wrote to Riggs about the naming of the park and was unequivocal¹ in his language, referring to the proposed park as "Denali National Park."

(5) Riggs disagreed with Sheldon and Browne. In his reply to Browne, Riggs declared:

(6) "I don't like the name of Denali. It is not descriptive. Everybody in the United States knows of Mt. McKinley and the various efforts made to climb it. In consequence, both Mr. Yard and I think that the name McKinley should stick. . . . "

(7) "Mount McKinley National Park" officially prevailed after its legislation was signed into law on February 26, 1917.

(8) It proved difficult to supplant² words and meanings that endured for generations among Athabaskan³ groups living in close proximity to the mountain. Athabaskan words for the mountain translate to "the tall one" or "mountain-big" (perhaps Riggs did not know the Native words were descriptive). "McKinley" was incompatible with the Athabaskan worldview because they rarely name places after people.

Renaming Effort Begins

(9) In 1975, the name controversy reemerged when the State of Alaska petitioned the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (USBGN) to change the name of the mountain to Denali officially. Unfortunately for Alaskans, the Ohio congressional delegation (representing former-President McKinley's home state) blocked their efforts for the next four decades.

(10) In 1980, momentum continued to favor the name Denali after the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act changed the park's name to Denali National Park and Preserve. But the official name of the mountain remained Mount McKinley.

(11) Name-change efforts led by Alaskan politicians continued to be thwarted⁴ by Congress until President Barack Obama and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell took action in 2015 to restore the name Denali to the mountain. . . .

The Origin of Names

(12) No fewer than nine Native groups, from time immemorial,⁵ have used unique names for the mountain. There are five Athabaskan languages surrounding the park, each with its own oral place name. According to University of Alaska linguist James Kari, the groups to the north and west of the mountain (and Alaska Range) use words that translate to "the tall one." The Athabaskan languages to the south of the mountain use words that mean "mountain-big." The name "Denali" stems from "deenaalee," which is from the Koyukon⁶ language traditionally spoken on the north side. . . .

(13) In 1930, Sheldon's The Wilderness of Denali was published and the memoir closes by making another case for the mountain's name:

(14) "The Indians [sic] who have lived for countless generations in the presence of these colossal⁷ mountains have given them names that are both euphonious⁸ and appropriate . . . Can it be denied that the names they gave to the most imposing features of their country should be preserved? Can it be too late to make an exception to current geographic rules and restore these beautiful names—names so expressive of the mountains themselves, and so symbolic of the Indians who bestowed them?"