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Julie Hirschfeld Davis: Mount McKinley Will Again Be Called Denali
President Obama announced on Sunday that Mount McKinley was being renamed Denali, restoring an Alaska Native name with deep cultural significance to the tallest mountain in North America. The move came on the eve of Mr. Obama’s trip to Alaska, where he will spend three days promoting aggressive action to combat climate change, and is part of a series of steps meant to address the concerns of Alaska Native tribes. The central Alaska mountain has been called Mount McKinley for more than a century. In announcing that Sally Jewell, the secretary of the interior, had used her power to rename it,
Mr. Obama was paying tribute to the state’s Native population, which has referred to the site for generations as Denali, meaning “the high one” or “the great one.” The peak, at more than 20,000 feet, plays a central role in the creation story of the Koyukon Athabascans, a group that has lived in Alaska for thousands of years. The White House also announced on Sunday that Mr. Obama was expanding government support for programs to allow Alaska Natives to be more involved in developing their own natural resources, including an initiative to include them in the management of Chinook salmon fisheries, a youth exchange council focusing on promoting “an Arctic way of life,” and a program allowing them to serve as advisers to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
More here
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Denali is something that is a part of my daily life (and most days, view). I could not be more pleased to have our President acknowledge it.
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Diane Witt (@dianewitt) August 30, 2025Generations of Alaskans, Alaska Natives hold Denali sacred. Time to honor its original name.SJ on.doi.gov/1KVKg5s http://t.co/mS3kFiLoST
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Sally Jewell (@SecretaryJewell) August 30, 2025****
Mount McKinley, America's highest mountain, to be restored to original name Denali tgr.ph/1hNfpBa http://t.co/DheMdFm42z
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Telegraph News (@TelegraphNews) August 30, 2025Those of you who think President Obama hasn’t enacted enough progressive policy should read right-wing reactions to Denali on Twitter.
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Justin Reedy (@justinsreedy) August 30, 2025****
Obama to rename nation’s highest mountain: hill.cm/ucqqmoB http://t.co/poXGtDMo9Q
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The Hill (@thehill) August 30, 2025President Obama renames Mount McKinley 'Denali' ti.me/1Vpm0Qt
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TIME.com (@TIME) August 30, 2025****
A name change that's been long overdue. #Denali @DenaliNPS twitter.com/Interior/statu…
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AK Dining & Travel (@AKCuisine) August 30, 2025****
Alaskans are thrilled to have their mountain's name restored.
#Denali twitter.com/robdelaney/sta…
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slc (@Syndeess) August 30, 2025Wonderful news, on the eve of President Obama's trip to Alaska, @Interior announces Denali rename: adn.com/article/201508…
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Sydney Kaufman (@SydneyHKaufman) August 30, 2025****
Mt McKinley isn't being "renamed" Denali... it is Denali. It's always been Denali. Locals, natives, climbers-- Denali. Good fix today.
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Shelby Edwards (@STEWest) August 30, 2025Mt. Denali will be renamed because that is the name given by native Alaskan's. So it is actually going back to original name.
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Middleclass Moderate (@midclassmoderat) August 30, 2025****
Respecting Alaska Natives: Obama To Rename Mount Mickinley As Mount Denali huff.to/1Fa5xqa
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Crystal EchoHawk (@CrystalEchoHawk) August 30, 2025Denali is a much cooler name anyway mobile.nytimes.com/2015/08/31/us/…
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Joelle Gamble (@joelle_gamble) August 30, 2025****
#Denali restored to its original/cultural name. Thank you, @POTUS ! nyti.ms/1JFsIK2
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Susan Pesznecker (@SuePesznecker) August 30, 2025
White House.gov
The leave a comment stayed so long a whole week passed…stupid computer
Congratulations Anjo
Where’s everyone???? I have been busy all day, will go through all that I missed and then be back, pleasant evening to one and all
Beautiful!! Just beautiful…
President Obama - you are amazing!!! And you too, Nerdy!
:)
The best thing about this is it’s not just restoring the rightful name, which is beautiful and significant, but could be seen as a gesture. But he goes on to create programs giving back not just the name of the mountain, but actual participation in decisions that affect their lives. I don’t know how to say how much I love this man.
the part of the program for the native community is very impressive and will make a difference
Everything President Obama does is a positive step forward, from sea to shining sea and then some. I’m so proud of our President!
Nerdy I just woke up but I assume this is why twitter is blowing up :???:
It. Was. BANANAS!!!!
Miley Cyrus said some messed up things about Nicki Minaj in an interview and the beautiful thing is that Nicki rightly came back at her face to face and in front of millions. She was like, no, I’m not going to be a coward and say this behind your back, noooooooooo. I’ll say it to your face.
Miley was not ready. She can run her mouth but can’t stand the heat. LOL.
Miley should have known better; Nicky, or for that matter, almost any young A-A woman will not let anyone get away with disrespecting her. Miley, who is a pretender, came for the Queen and got her ass whopped, metaphorically, in front of a world-wide audience. LMAO.
Many of us who have been in mountaineering or skiing activities have always called this incredible peak by the name Denali. Nothing else seemed appropriate or to fit the majesty.
Hear hear! Thanks for all the beautiful Denali tweets, Nerdy Wonka.
:)
oh, the countless mess that PBO has cleaned up (mess made by many presidents, elected leaders, and in some cases by multiple generations of ordinary people ;
I pity the hatemongers and fools who are doing their hardest to try and wash PBO’s achievements out of history - it will not happen
This is beautiful - thanks Nerdy for posting. Looking forward to seeing our President in Alaska this week.
:)
Congratulations Anjo!
I’m still here giving you a standing ovation!
Thank God for a President who respects ALL!
So glad original name is being restored….not “renamed”.
It’s like “discovering America”……. never was lost!
I never understood how and why the disrespect of coming to someone’s own home and just rename and take what you want.
No respect whatsoever.
Thank you Mr. President for the RESPECT.
Thank you for this awe inspiring post.
And thank you President Obama for turning our often upside down world right side up again. One good act at a time
First Thank you was to Nerdy.
:)
#MakeLoveNotWar
How majestic that mountain is!! So glad that PBO shows such respect for Native Alaskans with rightful name, Denali.
As if we weren’t disgusted enough with DWS and the DNC, now the media calls her latest non-resolution “a setback for President Obama.” No, it’s a traitorous action by the DNC! It’s a setback for the DNC!
She needs to be gone.
She is a liability and a distraction that can not be afforded. She needs to step down.
She needs to go gracefully, before a big, publicized fight breaks out. You are so right - we cannot afford this.
Can someone explain to me how this is a setback for POTUS?
I guess POTUS can’t ask Debbie W. Schultz to step down.
This is the usual crap the MSM does. Everything that this President has accomplished has always been first categorized as a setback for him. They have always got it wrong.
I’m not saying that she’s not a liability, but you know the media will focus on this instead of showing how screwed up the republican party is.
He appointed her since he’s the head of the Democratic Party, so maybe he could, although he’d be seen as the one fracturing the committee, of course. But, if he wanted to go that route, he’d probably do it behind the scenes, and allow her to gracefully resign.
I’m beginning to think she’s been promised something by HRC to hang tough. Who knows.
Do they only go by first names in Alaska? Are we supposed to know who Donna and Byron are? (jk)
When I first read this story of the restoration of the name Denali, I was reminded of a palace very near my parents’ home;
after a lot of exploration and the accompanying research, this place is official designated as the Source of the River Nile.
it is from this place that River Nile flows out of Lake Victoria, through a number of countries and finally to Egypt where it empties into the sea.
Before and as a member of the-then British Empire, our country was a focus of a number of expeditions by explorers.
In about 1858/59, a British Explorer by the name of John Speke was able to determine and communicate to the rest of the world, that indeed this location is the Source of the Nile.
History books and a placard placed on the rock at the shore of this location then stated that Speke was “the first person to see the Source of the Nile”. This is what we were taught in our curriculum .
It was not until after 1987, that local people and leaders said : wait a minute, Speke was NOT the first person to see the Source of the Nile. What about the local Ugandan people who have always lived in the area and saw & used this place everyday since anyone can remember. if Speke is the “first person” to see the Source of the Nile, then what does that make the local people ???
so after a “controversial debate” and lots of unhappy people from different parts of the world, the President ordered that the placard be taken down and modified to say: “Speke, was the first European to see the Source of the Nile”;
one would have thought that this was self-evident and didn’t need to be met with such opposition
now I happen to be in Ohio, home state of President McKinley;
I read that the people of Ohio had resisted this name restoration for years because it would remove a name from a home-state POTUS; I have read today that even recently, a gop rep from Ohio sponsored a resolution opposing this name restoration. Why would he do that I 2015 - expect as a statement to disrespect other people (especially Alaskan Natives)???
as anyone who has been to Ohio can attest, there are a number of local streets, and significant areas in Ohio named after President McKinley so why encroach on another state;
Ohio is a state with many past POTUS so how much will this one state need to name all of them
So interesting. Thank you for this GCLinda.
Thanks so much for sharing that!
All this Alaska talk gives me the shudders - Ha!
Alaska became a state when I was 12 years old and in elementary school. Our class was giving a presentation on the new state at a luncheon program, before the Parent-Teachers Association. My teacher (an otherwise very nice nun) picked me to give a talk about the new state. Oh joy. I had to MEMORIZE the talk. (Was that really necessary, Sister Meanie?) In my mind’s eye, I see the speech as a typed, double-spaced, 10-page document. I had to MEMORIZE it. Surely to God it wasn’t really 10 pages, as I look back. I thought I was nervous about it that day, until I looked out into the audience and saw my mother, whose face was as red as a beet and who looked like she was going to faint. Ha. I got through it, and I guess she did, but it was not a happy memory for either of us.
So, yeah, Alaska, ____ my ____.
Thank you Nerdy for highlighting this historic renaming of Mt. Mckinley to it’s proper name Denali. Thank you, President Obama and Secretary Jewel.
:)
Thanks.
The name that PBO’s Crow family gave to him that means “he who helps people across the land” was truly prophetic. Every group that has been marginalized, victimized, ignored, or forgotten in these so-called United States, has felt the balm of so many of his policies and actions that are slowly healing the wounds of so many. PBO sees everyone, acknowledges everyone’s humanity, and seeks to bring us all into a true union; one out of many. As most of you know, his birth name means “blessed” and so have we been by his service.
Sigh. Love it. Thanks for expressing that, so beautifully.
Thank you, CEB! Your comments are always so beautiful written.
Perfect, CEB. Couldn’t have asked for a better summary of PBO’s impact on the US.
OMG. This is one of the funniest tweets I’ve seen in a long time. #Kanye2020
Denali is indeed an imposing visual presence.
Good Morning TODVille!
It’s Monday, you know!
good morning everybody!
good morning TOD, Happy Monday and first day of school for Baltimore City kids… son off to be a Sophmore today :) Yay- I’m Freeee for a while! Have a lovely day All~
The first day of school should be declared a national holiday for mothers. School started last Monday in our area and you could almost hear the collective sighs of relief.
ohh I’m all for that Jackie- holiday! yay!