Alaska Native Land Rights & ANCSA
The Native communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee and Wrangell were left out of ANCSA and consequently stripped of land claims and the economic opportunity and support that came with inclusion in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
The most frustrating part about this exclusion is the fact that it has been concluded through a Congress-mandated study that there was no concrete reason or explanation for exclusion of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee or Wrangell from ANCSA. The 1993 ISER report was conducted by the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and in its seven chapters of exploration and research, found no blatant reason for exclusion.
In 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) was signed into law by President Richard Nixon, granting 44 million acres of land and $963 million to 12 newly organized Alaska Native regional corporations and more than 200 village and urban corporations. ANCSA redefined federal Indian policy and challenged the norm of the Lower 48’s well-known reservation system by extinguishing aboriginal land title in Alaska and mandating that both regional and village corporations be owned and enrolled by Alaska Native shareholders — placing corporate ownership into the hands of Alaska Natives.
ANCSA was a pivotal land claims bill for Alaska Natives and upon passage has allowed Alaska Native corporations to benefit their shareholders through job opportunities, dividends, internship and professional development programs, cultural institutions and programs, environmental stewardship, and more.
The problem?
Not all Southeast Native communities were included in the monumental act.
Implementing Legislation: The Path to Recognition
Amending ANCSA is the only way to correct this half a century long fight for our landless communities.
Over the years there have been several legislative attempts to recognize Petersburg, Tenakee, Wrangell, Haines, and Ketchikan through varying bill introductions, but unfortunately none have advanced through Congress for unrelated reasons. And while our last attempt in the 116th session of Congress was monumental in being the first ever federal legislation introduced on behalf of the landless communities to include maps showing specific lands proposed for conveyance, our efforts were deferred to this current 117th session of Congress due to a highly competitive congressional floor. Although this proved to be a brief roadblock, we are happy to announce that we finally have bill introduction from Don Young and his staff in the House of Representatives!
This reintroduction of the “Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act” (H.R. 3231) comes seven months after the initial introduction into committee last Congress and is almost identical to the previous legislation besides updated maps, dates, and the removal of recreational cabins from all parcel selections.
Legislation would again grant all 5 landless communities the opportunity to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) deferring 23,040 acres to each community.
We are incredibly appreciative of Congressman Don Young and his staff's swift bill reintroduction in this 117th session of Congress, as he has shown commitment to our landless communities and dedication to the reparations that are duly owed by the federal government to Tenakee, Wrangell, Petersburg, Ketchikan, and Haines. He will be the first of the Alaska delegation to reintroduce the bill into the House of Representatives.
“Access to land is crucial, and will help bring economic opportunity and upward mobility to the Alaska Natives in Southeast. Securing a better tomorrow for Alaska Natives starts with ensuring fair treatment under the law. I ask my friends on both sides of the aisle to stand with us in the critical and long-overdue effort.”
In light of bill reintroduction, it is now more important than ever that we continue to educate our communities and get our volunteers on the ground advocating for this important cause so that the rest of the Alaska Delegation follows suit and introduces our landless bill in the Senate.
