Statement from the Coalition for Outdoor Renaming and Education (CORE):

The Coalition for Outdoor Renaming and Education (CORE) is deeply concerned about the White House’s executive order (EO), Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness. Among other things, this EO mandates the renaming of Denali to Mt. McKinley and the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, actions that were officially implemented on Friday.  EOs aren’t automatically the law, there are many things this administration cannot do or has not yet tried to do, and there’s still room for work in this space. This EO undoes decades of progress toward making the outdoors more inclusive and welcoming for all people and instead returns to damaging, colonial naming practices that attempt to silence the deep connections to the land of Indigenous people and communities of color. Recognizing the diverse histories of this country’s landscapes is crucial for an outdoors that truly honors American greatness.

Place names hold power
They reflect stories, values, and connections to the land that transcend individual legacies. Indigenous place names often describe the landscape, natural features, or significant events tied to the location, evoking its essence and sharing a sacred connection to Ancestors. For over 10,000 years, the Koyukon Athabaskan people have called North America’s tallest peak Denali, meaning the “great one.” The name evokes the mountain’s grandeur and is considered a spiritual sanctuary for many Alaska Native peoples. Yet, in 1897, the mountain was arbitrarily renamed by a gold prospector to honor William McKinley, a then-presidential candidate with no connection to Alaska or its lands. This act erased Denali’s true name from the maps and public consciousness. Recognizing the significance of name restoration, the Obama Administration restored the Denali name in 2015. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, who championed the restoration, remarked that this “should not be relitigated.”

Throughout history, the erasure of Indigenous place names has been used to deliberately sever Indigenous people from their lands and destroy their cultures. Spanish colonizers in their genocidal efforts, erased the Mayan name Chactemal, stripping the waters of the gulf from its original names and its Indigenous Ancestral ties. Once referred to for beautiful reddish hues at sunset, the Gulf of Mexico is yet again being manipulated for the gains of colonizers. For renaming processes like the Gulf of Mexico, CORE recommends engaging with Indigenous Peoples and Tribes to guide the conversation. We propose restoring an Indigenous name to honor its natural elements and the original people who stewarded it instead of reinforcing colonial naming conventions.

Holding Process
The U.S. Board on Geographical Names (“BGN”) was established by public law in 1947. The process of reviewing and restoring place names, as led by BGN, has created a path for addressing offensive and exclusionary names resulting from the colonial erasure of Indigenous history, and degradation of minority groups through collaborative and thoughtful engagement. This process incorporates input from Tribal Nations, local communities, and historians, ensuring that the decisions made reflect the values of fairness and respect for communities and the many histories that together create our collective American identity. Curtailing these efforts by the BGN will disrupt meaningful progress and deny the voices of those advocating for a more representative approach to naming our shared spaces.

CORE remains steadfast in its mission to address harmful racist and derogatory place names by braiding together education with honest narratives, healing through holistic connection to place, and planting seeds for a future that support all communities.

Taking Action
Join us in supporting the protection of Indigenous place names like Denali, a name used and honored by its state.

Raise your voice, contact your senators and representatives, and advocate for renaming efforts in pursuit of historical truth and responsibility.

Let’s defend our shared landscapes and honor all Americans through process that does no harm.

Visit www.outdoorrenaming.org to learn more and take action.