It’s called Mount Denali and always will be Mount Denali!
February 26, 2025
Photo Source: Wikipedia
The highest mountain in North America is Denali, located in Alaska rising to 6190 meters. The name is based on the Koyukon name “Deenaalee” which means the high one. The Koyukon are people who had settled north of the mountain and are part of Alaskan Athabaskans or Dena. The mountain’s name unfortunately has sparked significant controversy in recent years which reflects on the disrespect settler society continues to show to the indigenous people of the Americas.
In 2017 the U.S. federal government officially named the mountain Mount McKinley in honour of their 25th President who had been assassinated in 1901. President McKinley had never visited the state nor did he have any significant connection to it. In 1975, the Alaskan state legislature requested the federal government rename the mountain “Denali” in recognition of the fact that it was still the common name used in the state and was traditional among Alaska Native Peoples.
However, it was not until 2015 under the Obama administration that the name was officially changed. Now, a mere ten years later, the current U.S. administration has chosen to insult the indigenous people of Alaska, and by extension all North American indigenous people, by ignoring their legitimate traditions and reverting to the name Mount McKinley despite the lack of any historic connection between the 25th President and the region.
This lack of understanding and the antipathy it demonstrates towards indigenous people is significant. It reflects on a culture where minority interests are subordinated to the dominant settler culture. For Canadians it serves as a reminder that the present existential threat posed by the U.S. administration’s comments regarding Canada becoming the 51st state are not just disrespectful attacks on Canadian sovereignty but also ignores the sovereignty of the many indigenous communities who have achieved or continue to seek self-government and self-determination within the confederation of Canada.
In a long statement, Chief Rodger Redman of Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation, located northeast of Regina, said that hearing the U.S. administration’s comments about Canada becoming a 51st state led him to pause and consider Indigenous history of resistance.
"Our connection to these lands isn't just historical — it's living, breathing, Our ancestors fought to protect these lands. We honour them by ensuring that our sovereignty remains intact today. So, when I hear talk of a 51st state, I don't just hear politics — I hear a reminder of why we stand strong, why we continue to assert our rights. Our message is clear: our sovereignty isn't negotiable."1
Many people in indigenous communities across Canada believe that if Canada were to be annexed they would suffer and would potentially lose their sovereignty. They stand united with Canadians to resist any efforts by the U.S. to annex Canada. This is an important factor to be considered as Canada continues on the path to defending, evolving and maturing as a sovereign democratic nation.
Much work remains to be done to establish a mature relationship between Canada and the indigenous people who share this land. On February 17, 2025 the federal government and the Haida Nation signed a historic agreement recognizing Aboriginal title over the archipelago of Haida Gwaii off British Columbia's northern coast. The landmark agreement recognizes that the Haida people have lived here since time immemorial. That the Haida people have an inalienable right to use, manage and enjoy the lands of Haida Gwaii as they see fit. That self-determination is the only path toward true reconciliation.
This recent Big Tide Haida Title Lands Agreement affirms that the Haida have Aboriginal title over all of the islands' lands, beds of freshwater bodies, and foreshores to the low-tide mark. It will transition the Crown-title land to the Haida people, granting them an inherent legal right to the land. The transfer of the underlying title would affect how courts interpret issues involving disputes.2
The agreement follows a similar recognition by the B.C. government last year. It resolves a four-decade-long fight that began with a logging blockade and became an intensely fought legal battle. The Big Tide agreement comes more than two decades after the Council of the Haida Nation launched a legal challenge against Canada and the province, seeking a declaration of Aboriginal title.
The future of Canada includes not only the confederation of ten provinces but also includes the autonomous territories and a broad mosaic of other self-governing indigenous communities. While progress towards this integrated, progressive vision for our Confederation is painfully slow it involves complex issues regarding shared responsibilities as well as the recognition of legitimate past treaty relationships (or lack thereof). As negotiations continue across many fronts and litigation continues to shape the landscape, both legally and socially, the hope is Canada is evolving into a distinct nation that incorporates the cultures, language and rights of many different self-governing communities into a cohesive whole.
The Big Tide Haida Title Lands Agreement is an example of a negotiated result that recognizes the inherent rights of indigenous people as expressed in the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) and perhaps establishes a precedent that will expedite like future settlements with other independent indigenous nations.
As per the federal government’s Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Canada website there is:
“no single model of self-government. Arrangements take many forms based on the different historical, cultural, political and economic circumstances of the Indigenous governments, regions and communities involved. For example: Inuit land claim agreements have been signed in all 4 Inuit regions. These Inuit communities are pursuing their vision of self-determination under these agreements and in some cases through ongoing self-government negotiations. The Métis are also actively pursuing their own vision of self-determination through ongoing engagement with their citizens and through dialogue at Recognition of Rights and Self-Determination discussion tables with Canada.
Self-government is part of the foundation for a renewed relationship and is a pathway to development and economic growth that generates benefits for Indigenous peoples.”3
There are 25 self-government agreements across Canada involving 43 Indigenous communities. There are also 2 education agreements involving 35 Indigenous communities. In addition, there are approximately 50 sets of negotiations on-going to establish other modern treaties that establish self-governing models.
Self-government agreements address the following key elements:
The structure of the new indigenous government and its relationship with other governments;
New funding arrangements;
The relationship of laws between jurisdictions, such as how different laws will work together;
How programs and services will be delivered to community members;
Ways to promote improved community well-being, often with a focus on Indigenous languages, heritage and culture and socio-economic initiatives;
Preparations for when the agreement takes effect, such as implementation planning.
In addition, other discussions are taking place, where appropriate, to discuss alternative arrangements.
Arguably these negotiations and discussions are painfully slow. However, they are very complex and require overcoming many years of suffering under flawed relationships wherein indigenous rights were not recognized and were often trampled over. Canada has to do a better job, but has continued to make progress.
In this context the re-naming of a mountain in Alaska to honour a white past president of the United States is no trivial matter but rather is symbolically significant. Regardless of what the U.S. government might determine to be official for our part the highest mountain on the continent will forever be called Denali!
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/indigenous-leaders-say-trump-s-threats-challenge-inherent-sovereignty-1.7466351
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/haida-gwaii-aboriginal-title-federal-agreement-1.7461151
https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100032275/1529354547314