Voters have set in motion the process of changing the name of the northernmost community in Alaska from the English "Barrow" back to the Inupiaq "Utqiagvik."

The canvass committee certified the results of the city's primary election showing voters approving the name-change ordinance. The action came on Monday, which was Indigenous People's Day.

"It reclaims our beautiful Inupiaq language," said Mayor Bob Harcharek.

In late August, city council member Qaiyaan Harcharek introduced the ordinance. As the Sounder reported following that meeting, the ordinance's authors wrote:

"To do so would acknowledge, honor and be a reclamation of our beautiful language which is moribund."

The authors also acknowledged that Inupiaq is the "original, ancestral language of this area and our people" and that returning to Utqiagvik would "promote pride in identity" and would "perpetuate healing and growth from the assimilation and oppression from the colonists."


Some opponents of the measure were concerned the name change would cost the city money, both in terms of changing all official references to the name on things like stationery and signage, and the loss of emotional capital or recognition that come along with the name Barrow for tourism and business.