HJR 15-CHANGE NAME OF MT. MCKINLEY TO DENALI 9:21:54 AM CO-CHAIR MUNOZ announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15, Urging the United States Congress to change the name of Mount McKinley to Denali. 9:22:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT KAWASAKI, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as the sponsor of HJR 15, relayed how picturesque Mount McKinley and the surrounding area is. The peak has been around for millions of years and the Alaska Natives appropriately named it Denali, "The High One." The peak was renamed in 1896 by William Dickey after presidential candidate McKinley, who did become the president. About 18 months after he became president, President McKinley was fatally shot. This was a president who had no apparent connection to the state and never visited the state. Representative Kawasaki said that he introduced HJR 15 to encourage Congress to reconsider naming the peak "Denali," which would restore the name back to Alaskans. He reminded members that in the 1970s the attempt to change the name of McKinley National Park to Denali National Park was successful. Since 1975 Ohio Congressman Ralph Regula has blocked the name change of the peak. Congressman Regula is from Canton, Ohio, which is the birth place of President McKinley. The retirement of Congressman Regula would seem to provide an opening with regard to renaming the peak. Representative Kawasaki opined that it's appropriate that the name be given by the Alaskan people. He further opined that although he respects the Office of the President, McKinley already has a lot of things named after him. In closing, Representative Kawasaki related his belief that it's time for the Alaskan people to name their own landmarks. He acknowledged that although HJR 15 isn't the most important resolution, the message it sends Congress is as grand as the mountain itself: that Alaska should name its landmarks. 9:27:16 AM CO-CHAIR HERRON moved that the committee adopt HJR 15, Version A. There being no objection, HJR 15 was before the committee. 9:27:59 AM DAVID MOORE, Member, Alaska Historical Commission, Office of History & Archaeology, Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation, Department of Natural Resources, related support for HJR 15. He explained that the Alaska Historical Commission is the official board that reviews geographic name proposals prior to those proposals being submitted to the US State Board on Geographic Names. The Alaska Historical Commission and its predecessor board have voted in favor of changing the name to Denali, primarily due to the belief that Alaskans should be able to name their places. Mr. Moore related that the commission's Native member supports HJR 15, but requests that the resolution identify the dialect of Athabascan that the name Denali comes from rather than refer to the Athabascan language. 9:30:16 AM ROBERT CHARLIE, Executive Director, Cultural Heritage and Education Institute, related his support of HJR 15 and noted that "Denali" is the proper spelling. The peak has been a landmark for the Athabascan people for thousands of years. He noted that back in 1982 he was one of the individuals who worked with US Senator Stevens to gather signatures in support of changing the name to Denali. 9:32:49 AM CO-CHAIR MUNOZ, upon determining no one else wished to testify or had questions, public testimony was closed. 9:32:59 AM CO-CHAIR HERRON moved that the committee adopt Amendment 1, which read: Delete at page 1, lines 7-9 Add the following at page 1, lines 7-9: WHEREAS "Denali" translates to "The High One" from the Koyukon dialect of the Athabaskan people and is indicative of its worldwide recognition as the highest mountain on the continent of North America, standing at 20,320 feet; and There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 9:33:15 AM CO-CHAIR HERRON moved that the committee adopt Amendment 2, which read: Delete at page 2, lines 1-2 Add the following at page 2, line 1-2: WHEREAS the Alaska Board of Geographical Names officially recognizes the name of the mountain as "Denali"; and There being no objection, Amendment 2 was adopted. 9:33:42 AM CO-CHAIR HERRON noted his support for HJR 15. He then informed the committee that President McKinley was a decorated Civil War veteran who served in Congress and was the governor of Ohio. President McKinley was especially supportive of gold miners. President McKinley ran on a platform in 1896 in support of the gold standard. Interestingly, President McKinley believed in pluralism, which is the protection of minority ethnic groups in society. William Dickey, a gold miner on the Susitna, wrote an article promoting the gold standard. Because of the gold in Alaska, Mr. Dickey named the peak in honor of President McKinley. Therefore, Co-Chair Herron opined that it was topical and made sense at the time. Co-Chair Herron then highlighted the importance of discussing the resolution. 9:37:27 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER remarked that as a legislator she has learned that everything is important to someone. 9:37:51 AM REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA opined that HJR 15 hits the heart of Alaskans in many ways. Furthermore, Co-Chair Herron's comments regarding President McKinley seem to indicate that President McKinley would've supported HJR 15. 9:39:30 AM REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT commented that introducing HJR 15 now is timely to as it's the 50th anniversary of Alaska's statehood. She related her support for HJR 15, which she said isn't trivial. 9:40:09 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER moved to report HJR 15, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHJR 15(CRA) was reported from the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.