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HJR 4

Urging the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of the Interior, the United States Board on Geographic Names, and the members of the state's delegation in Congress to maintain Denali as the official name for the tallest mountain in North America.

34th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Ashley Carrick and 11 co-sponsors

Alaska urges federal officials to preserve "Denali" as the official name for North America's tallest mountain against potential future renaming.

(H) PERMANENTLY FILED 7/16 LEGIS RESOLVE 1
#alaskanatives #placenames #publicland
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Bill Summary · HJR 4

Legislative bill overview

HJR 4 is a joint resolution urging federal officials and Alaska's Congressional delegation to maintain "Denali" as the official name for North America's tallest mountain, currently located in Alaska. The resolution expresses the state's preference against any potential name changes to the peak.

Why is this important

Mountain naming reflects cultural and political identity. Alaska officially changed the peak's name from "Mt. McKinley" to "Denali" (an Athabascan word meaning "the great one") in 1975, and the U.S. federal government officially recognized this in 2015. This resolution signals state opposition to any reversal of that decision, which could occur if political leadership changes at the federal level or through Congressional action.

Potential points of contention

  • Symbolic vs. substantive: Joint resolutions are non-binding expressions of opinion rather than enforceable law, limiting their practical impact
  • Political precedent concern: The name change history reflects broader tensions over federal vs. state authority over geographic nomenclature and cultural representation
  • Underlying assumption: The resolution implies a genuine threat exists that federal officials might rename the mountain, though no active legislative effort to do so has been introduced

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

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