By virtual presidential decree, the tallest mountain on the continent will be renamed from Mt. McKinley to Mt. Denali, which means “high one” or “great one” in local tribal language. Apparently Alaska politicians long wanted federal recognition for the traditional name even though the mountain has been named after the former president for over a century, long before Alaska statehood or the arrival of most Alaskan population.
Denali reportedly played a role in ancient tribal creation mythology. Tribal persons number several thousand and only a fraction speak the language from which the word Denali emerged. Presumably few if any still fully adhere to the old religion. But there is an irresistable chic to indigenous culture against which a nearly forgotten rotund old white male Republican Protestant has little to no chance in today’s public conversation.
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