Mt. Rainier has been known regionally by Native tribes as Tahoma, (with alternate pronunciations Tacoma or Tacobet) long before western settlers ever stepped foot in the Pacific Northwest. The Name "Rainier", which reflects little more than explorer George Vancouver's incidental gesture to his friend, Peter Rainier (a British Explorer and parliamentarian who fought battles against Americans) has little reason to remain the mountain's official moniker. In addition to being irrelevent and irreverent to the region's real history, the current name actively erases generations of Native history and fails to honor Native presence and belonging.



In the wake of the re-recognition of Alaskan Native People's Mt. Denali, We request that Mt. Rainier be similarly recognized by its Native and original name: Tahoma.