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HJR 3

Opposing efforts to change the name of the tallest mountain in North America from Denali to Mt. McKinley, and supporting efforts to recognize the heritage and continuing importance of the mountain and of Alaska Native peoples.

34th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Ashley Carrick

Alaska House resolution opposes renaming Denali to Mt. McKinley, affirming the Alaska Native name and indigenous cultural recognition of North America's tallest mountain.

(H) Minutes (HRLS)
#alaskanatives #placenames #publicland
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Bill Summary · HJR 3

Legislative bill overview

This Alaska House Joint Resolution opposes renaming North America's tallest mountain from Denali back to Mt. McKinley. The resolution affirms support for the current name "Denali" and recognizes the cultural significance of the mountain to Alaska Native peoples and its importance to Alaska's heritage.

Why is this important

The mountain's name carries symbolic weight regarding indigenous recognition and state identity. In 2015, the Obama administration officially changed the name from Mt. McKinley to Denali (the Alaska Native Athabascan name meaning "the great one"), but the Trump administration reversed this in 2017, renaming it Mt. McKinley. This resolution reflects ongoing debates about honoring indigenous cultures versus federal naming authority, with real consequences for how Alaska's identity is publicly recognized.

Potential points of contention

  • Federal vs. state authority: The U.S. Board on Geographic Names has final authority over the name, making a state resolution symbolically powerful but legally non-binding
  • Political symbolism: The bill implicitly opposes potential federal action to change the name again, reflecting partisan divisions over indigenous recognition and historical commemoration
  • Resource allocation: Critics may question whether legislative time should focus on a symbolic naming dispute rather than substantive policy issues affecting Alaska

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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