CORE Steering Committee Leader Kimberly Smith Appointed to the Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names

Kimberly Smith (Eastern Band of Cherokee).

The Coalition for Outdoor Renaming and Education (CORE) is elated to acknowledge that Kimberly Smith (Eastern Band of Cherokee), a CORE Steering Committee leader, has been appointed by Secretary Deb Haaland to serve on the Department of the Interior’s Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names.

In this role, Kim will craft recommendations to improve the federal renaming process, making it more equitable and inclusive. She will also contribute to identifying racist and derogatory place names, developing a plan for community consultation to identify replacement names, and generating resources for community engagement and education.

“It is an incredible honor to represent the organizations I work with and for, my Tribe, and ultimately my Ancestors in this endeavor. Joining this respected collective of national leaders and social justice advocates fills me with excitement and motivation to continue addressing intergenerational trauma, fostering healing, and creating inclusive spaces on our shared public lands. Together, we have the opportunity to honor the past and build a more just and equitable future,” Smith said.

Kim has been integral to the development and growth of the Coalition for Outdoor Renaming and Education, serving on CORE’s steering committee as public relations chair. CORE works to empower the national renaming movement and support renaming initiatives in local communities. The national coalition hosts regional hubs, which provide resources and support to local renaming efforts. In addition to serving on CORE’s Steering Committee, Kim leads CORE’s Southeast hub. In this work, she serves as a champion for renaming work in her community. Kim was instrumental in supporting the recent name restoration of Kuwohi - the Cherokee Ancestral name for the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

Outside of renaming work, Kim has dedicated her career to uplifting Cherokee cultural heritage and community-led initiatives. As a student at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, she successfully advocated to protect a sacred Cherokee mound on campus and led the development of the Native American Interpretive Garden. In addition, she advocated for the expansion of the university’s course catalog to include diversity offerings and an Indigenous language program. Her efforts were recognized this year with a 2024 University of Tennessee 40 Under 40 award.

This is a milestone moment not only for CORE, but also for all who are dedicated to justice, equity, and inclusion in outdoor spaces. Kim’s contributions to this Advisory Committee will greatly enrich their work. CORE is excited to see the positive changes her leadership will inspire and remain committed to addressing 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 supports all communities. We congratulate Kim on this very well-deserved appointment and are excited to continue supporting the critically important work of the Advisory Committee.

Cherokee homelands in what is currently western North Carolina. (Credit: Micheli Oliver).