Yellowstone National Park has officially renamed Mount Doane to First Peoples Mountain, marking a historic move to acknowledge and respect the significance of Indigenous communities and their history. This decision reflects a growing national effort to address offensive or controversial names associated with public landmarks.
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names, responsible for approving changes to place names in federal lands, voted unanimously (15-0) in favor of the renaming. This move was championed by advocacy groups and Indigenous organizations who have long called for the removal of names tied to individuals or events that represent oppression or injustice toward Native Americans.
The mountain, located east of Yellowstone Lake and standing 10,551 feet tall, had previously been named in honor of Gustavus Doane, a U.S. Army officer and explorer. While Doane played a role in the early exploration of Yellowstone, his involvement in the brutal Marias Massacre of 1870—where over 200 members of the Blackfeet Nation were killed—has made him a controversial figure.
The Historical Context Behind the Name
Mount Doane was named in the late 19th century to commemorate Gustavus Doane’s contributions to the early exploration of the Yellowstone region. Doane was part of the 1870 Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition, which provided valuable insights into the unique geothermal features and natural beauty of Yellowstone. This expedition was instrumental in advocating for the area to be designated as the first national park in the United States in 1872.
Despite his contributions to exploration, Doane’s legacy has been overshadowed by his role in the Marias Massacre, one of the darkest chapters in U.S. military history.
On January 23, 1870, Doane, then a lieutenant in the U.S. Cavalry, led a violent attack against a Piegan Blackfeet village along the Marias River in Montana. The attack was ordered as a punitive response to the killing of a white fur trader by a member of the Blackfeet Nation. However, the village targeted was not involved in the incident.
The massacre resulted in the deaths of over 200 individuals, most of whom were women, children, and elderly members of the Blackfeet Nation. The attack was widely criticized, even at the time, as a gross misuse of military power. Despite this, Doane justified the massacre in official reports, claiming it as necessary punishment for Native American resistance.
The name “Mount Doane” became a stark reminder of this violent history, leading to decades of advocacy for its removal.
Who Was Gustavus Doane?
Gustavus Cheyney Doane was born in 1840 in Illinois and raised in California. He attended the University of the Pacific in Santa Clara before enlisting in the Union Army during the Civil War. Doane joined the Second Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry’s “California Hundred,” a federal force composed of volunteers from California, and rose to the rank of sergeant by 1864.
After the war, Doane briefly served as the mayor of Yazoo City, Mississippi, before applying for a commission in the U.S. Cavalry. By 1868, he had secured a position as a second lieutenant, which began his career as an officer in the post-Civil War U.S. military.
Doane’s most notable contribution came in 1870 when he joined the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition in Yellowstone. His detailed accounts of the area’s geysers, hot springs, and dramatic landscapes helped persuade Congress to establish Yellowstone as a national park. Despite this accomplishment, his association with the Marias Massacre and his unapologetic stance on the incident tarnished his reputation, eventually leading to the renaming of the mountain.
Why the Name Change Matters
The renaming of Mount Doane to First Peoples Mountain is part of a broader movement to address systemic racism and promote inclusivity in the naming of public landmarks. For decades, Indigenous activists, historians, and advocates have argued that names celebrating individuals who participated in or perpetuated violence against Native Americans are inappropriate for places meant to be enjoyed by all.
The new name, First Peoples Mountain, honors the many Indigenous communities who have lived in and stewarded the Yellowstone region for thousands of years. Tribes such as the Shoshone, Crow, Blackfeet, Bannock, and Northern Cheyenne have deep cultural and spiritual ties to the area.
The National Park Service (NPS) acknowledged this heritage in its announcement, stating that the new name reflects the park’s commitment to inclusivity and respect for the histories of all peoples associated with Yellowstone.
“The renaming of First Peoples Mountain is a step forward in recognizing the contributions and significance of Indigenous communities to Yellowstone and beyond,” an NPS representative said in a statement.
A Growing Movement Across the Nation
The decision to rename Mount Doane is part of a nationwide effort to reevaluate and replace offensive or controversial place names. In recent years, several landmarks and geographic features have been renamed to better reflect modern values and honor the diverse histories of the United States.
In 2022, the Department of the Interior announced the removal of the word “squaw” from more than 650 place names across the country. This term, considered a slur against Indigenous women, was replaced with culturally sensitive alternatives. Similarly, other landmarks, such as Mount McKinley in Alaska (now Denali) and Harney Peak in South Dakota (now Black Elk Peak), have undergone name changes to honor Indigenous heritage.
The process of renaming places often involves consultation with Indigenous communities, historians, and other stakeholders to ensure that the new names are respectful and meaningful. The renaming of Mount Doane followed a similar process, with tribal representatives and advocacy groups playing a key role in the decision.
Indigenous Connections to Yellowstone
For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples have lived in and around what is now Yellowstone National Park. These communities have deep spiritual connections to the land, viewing its geothermal features, rivers, and mountains as sacred.
The creation of Yellowstone as the first national park in 1872 displaced many of these tribes, disrupting their traditional ways of life and severing them from their ancestral lands. The renaming of First Peoples Mountain is seen by many as a small but significant step toward acknowledging and addressing this history of dispossession.
Reactions to the Renaming
The decision to rename Mount Doane has been met with widespread support from Indigenous organizations, historians, and advocacy groups. Many view it as a long-overdue acknowledgment of the injustices faced by Native Americans and a meaningful step toward reconciliation.
“It’s about more than just a name,” said a representative from the Blackfeet Nation. “It’s about recognizing the truth of our history and honoring the resilience of our people.”
However, some critics argue that renaming historical landmarks erases history. Advocates for the change counter that the goal is not to erase history but to tell a more complete and accurate story—one that acknowledges both the triumphs and the tragedies of the past.
Conclusion
The renaming of Mount Doane to First Peoples Mountain represents a pivotal moment in Yellowstone National Park’s history. By choosing a name that honors the region’s Indigenous heritage, the National Park Service has taken a meaningful step toward fostering inclusivity and respect for all communities.
While this change cannot undo the injustices of the past, it sends a powerful message about the importance of reckoning with history and creating a more equitable future.
As the first national park in the United States, Yellowstone holds a unique place in the country’s history and imagination. The renaming of First Peoples Mountain ensures that this iconic landscape reflects not only its natural beauty but also the diverse and complex histories of the people who have called it home.
