The Coalition for Outdoor Renaming and Education (CORE) is proud to celebrate the return of the name Kuwohi to the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a place previously known for over 165 years as Clingmans Dome. On September 18, the U.S. The U.S Board on Geographic Names (BGN) unanimously approved this restoration, recognizing the mountain’s Ancestral Cherokee name and cultural importance.

This achievement is the culmination of dedicated efforts by Mary Crowe and Lavita Hill, both enrolled citizens of the Eastern Band of Cherokee (EBC), alongside Principal Chief Michell Hicks, who formally submitted the request to the BGN in January 2024. Their unwavering commitment has restored a name that speaks to the heart of Cherokee identity, resilience, and reverence for the land. Their work was bolstered by overwhelming community support, including formal endorsements from municipalities, counties, and organizations across western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

Kuwohi, meaning “mulberry place,” is the Ancestral name given to this mountain by the Cherokee people, whose rich culture dates back tens of thousands of years. It was renamed Clingmans Dome in 1859 to honor Thomas Clingman, a Confederate general, obscuring its true heritage and significance. The restoration of Kuwohi is a powerful act of promoting justice, building awareness of the prevalence and impact of divisive place names, healing the pain of displacement and erasure, and empowering the resilience of the Cherokee people. Notably, the Clingman family itself has shown support for this restoration, acknowledging the importance of honoring the original name.

*Mary “Missy” Crowe and Lavita Hill are shown at Kuwohi on the morning of September 10, 2024. Photo credit: SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photos.*

The renaming of Kuwohi is a beacon of hope in a larger movement. Thousands of places bear names that are derogatory, include racial and sexual slurs, honor perpetrators of violence and enslavement, and other forms of harm. Renaming initiatives aim to restore Indigenous names, and increase inclusive, and respectful names to the landscapes of America. In 2021, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) took action by removing over 650 offensive places named with a slur against Native women and established the federal Advisory Committee on Reconciliation in Place Names. This committee has already identified over 1,260 additional names for renaming, but its future is uncertain, depending on the priorities of future administrations. We invite you to join CORE, empower the national renaming movement, and engage in renaming initiatives in your community. You can help restore the true stories and identities of the land. Together, we can ensure the continuation of this essential work, foster understanding, and drive healing across the nation.

Quotes from CORE Steering Committee Members:

Kimberly Smith (enrolled citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee), Southern Appalachian Community Conservation Specialist at The Wilderness Society, CORE Steering Committee Member, CORE Southeast Hub Leader - "This moment is a testament to the resilience of our people and our enduring connection to our heritage and our homelands. It has been an immense honor to support the restoration of Kuwohi—a campaign rooted in healing intergenerational trauma and reconnection to our culture, tradition, and homeland. There is deep healing in knowing that TWS, founded in these very mountains, fully supports the renaming initiative and gives its resources to uplift my tribal nation and community. To represent the Cherokee people on the national stage and uplift tribal sovereignty through CORE is deeply meaningful to me. When the name Kuwohi was restored, the mountains themselves rejoiced, and our Ancestors breathed a sigh of relief into the wind."

Jessica Lambert (enrolled citizen of the Choctaw Nation and first-generation descendant of the Eastern Band of Cherokee), Native Lands Partnerships Specialist at The Wilderness Society and CORE Steering Committee Member - “CORE is thrilled to celebrate the restoration of Kuwohi’s name, a significant milestone towards healing our lands and creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all. This renaming is a testament to the unwavering dedication of community advocates like Mary Crowe, Lavita Hill, and many others who have worked tirelessly to restore Kuwohi's rightful name. This renaming is more than a symbolic victory — it is a powerful reminder that despite centuries of erasure, Cherokee people are still here, resilient and deeply connected to these lands. It marks a step toward healing, not just for us today, but for future generations who will grow up knowing and honoring the significance of this place.”

Tremayne Nez (Diné / Navajo), Policy Director at Native Organizers Alliance, CORE Steering Committee Member - “The restoration of Kuwohi’s name symbolizes resilience, healing, and reconnection to its ancestral significance for the Cherokee people. It honors the tireless advocacy work of community organizers and represents a step toward healing while inviting both residents and visitors to engage with the true history of the land and its people. This act of renaming paves the way for future generations to honor and preserve this legacy."

*View from Kuwohi. Photo credit: Kimberly Smith.*

Gerry Seavo James, Deputy Campaign Director at the Sierra Club, Outdoors For All, CORE Steering Committee Member - “Restoring the name Kuwohi is about more than just a name change, it’s about recognizing and honoring the deep cultural and historical significance this landmark holds for the Cherokee people. As the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the tallest point in Tennessee, the highest along the Appalachian Trail, and the third-highest in eastern mainland North America, Kuwohi is an iconic natural feature that draws countless visitors each year who are captivated by its beauty and majestic views. By returning its original name, we are dismantling legacies of oppression and affirming the importance of Indigenous heritage in our shared landscapes. For every visitor who walks its trails, Kuwohi serves as an invitation to learn, reflect, and respect the stories that this land holds. It reminds us that our public spaces should honor not only the physical grandeur of these places but also the rich, diverse histories and identities that have shaped them.

Julie Judkins, Just-Trails, CORE Steering Committee Member & Southeast Hub Member - “The renaming of Kuwohi is a powerful step toward restoring justice, honoring Indigenous heritage, and healing the land and people’s joint history. The Coalition for Outdoor Renaming and Education (CORE) is proud to support this effort, weaving together education, empowerment, and engagement to reclaim places with names that reflect the dignity and diversity of all communities. Kuwohi’s restoration in its name is a significant step — CORE will continue uplifting these efforts across the nation, ensuring the stories of the land and its people are told truthfully and inclusively.”

Olivia Porter, Southern Appalachian Landscape Project Director at the National Parks Conservation Association, CORE Steering Committee Member & Southeast Hub Member - “Restoring the name Kuwohi to the highest peak in the Smokies and Ancestral homeland of the Eastern Band of Cherokee was rooted in community engagement and outreach, allowing the people of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee to participate in powerful discussions about our region’s history and identity. These discussions underscored the unifying power of our collective connection to place, encouraging residents and visitors to learn more about the significance of this name and the Indigenous people that have stewarded the peak for centuries. The Coalition for Outdoor Renaming and Education (CORE) supports community-based renaming efforts such as the one that has led to the restoration of Kuwohi, and through our collective advocacy we hope to uplift additional future renaming efforts leading to community healing and education.”

For more information on the Kuwohi renaming please visit and join CORE’s efforts in restoration and renaming efforts please visit outdoorrenaming.org

About the Coalition for Outdoor Renaming and Education (CORE) CORE is a national coalition of Indigenous leaders, historians, outdoor advocates, and educators committed to transforming the narrative of public lands through an inclusive process of reconciliation by the renaming of offensive places. Our mission is to address harmful 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 believe that the names we use matter, for they tell the stories of who we are and who we aspire to be.

Coalition for Outdoor Renaming & Education Celebrates the Renaming of Kuwohi