Selected Dates in the Campaign for the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 1961-1971

1961

State land selections threaten continued use of lands in Minto area.

1961

Inupiat Paitot meets to discuss protections of aboriginal rights.

1962

“Tundra Times” is established.

1963

Proposed Rampart Dam protested by Stevens Village and other Yukon River villages.

Alaska Task Force calls upon Congress to define Native land rights.

1966

Statewide conference leads to organization of Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN).

Interior Secretary Stewart Udall imposes a “land freeze” to protect Native use and occupancy.

1967

First bills introduced in Congress to settle Native land claims.

Native protests and claims to land reach 380 million acres.

1968

Alaska Land Claims Task Force, established by Governor Hickel, recommends 40 million-acre land settlement.

Governmental study effort (Alaska Natives and the Land) asserts Native land claims to be valid.

1969

North Slope oil lease auction produces $900 million for the State of Alaska.

1970

A land claims bill is passed by the Senate, but Natives are disappointed in its land provisions.

1971

Bills pass both houses of Congress, but differences in them require conference committee: its compromise version passes both houses.

Following acceptance by the AFN convention, President Nixon signs the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (P.L. 92-203) on December 18.

Taken from Robert Arnold, 1978,
Alaska Native Land Claims, p.97

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)
By Alexandra J. McClanahan
CIRI Historian

In 1971 the push for oil development, the state's desire to get the land promised to it under the Statehood Act and the Alaska Natives’ efforts to save their land paid off with what would become the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, known as ANCSA. For four long years spirited debate had focused on just how much land and cash the Alaska Natives would be granted for the settlement of their claims. The final bill that emerged promised 44 million acres and $1 billion in cash.

NATIVE CORPORATIONS: A bill Bush may sign would make it easier to enroll.

By PAULA DOBBYN
Anchorage Daily News

Published: March 2, 2006
Last Modified: March 2, 2006 at 04:30 AM

A bill awaiting President Bush's signature would make it much easier to become a shareholder of an Alaska Native corporation.

The House of Representatives this week joined the Senate in passing legislation, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, that would relax the standards Native corporations must meet to enroll new shareholders. The bill was pushed by Doyon Ltd. of Fairbanks and Sealaska Corp. of Juneau.
Full Article

Native Corporations:
An Epic Story Benefiting Alaska
Carl Marrs
President of the ANCSA CEO Association
COMMONWEALTH NORTH FORUM

March 21, 2002
Questions and Answers

JOE GRIFFITH: Carl, could you discuss the pros and cons of the Alaska model versus the Nunavit (ph) model, that's the Canadian one up in the Canadian Northwest with respect to the aspirations of the Native people?

CARL MARRS: Well, I really can't, but I don't have a good understanding of where the Canadian people are going as far as the corporate side is. But I think their concerns are the same as all of ours, you know. Even though the corporations are doing fairly well across the board there are still many, many problems with Alaska Natives that need to be worked on in education and health. Those are still big issues, and I know those are the same type of issues that the Native people of Canada have.

By Carl Marrs
President of the ANCSA CEO Association
COMMONWEALTH NORTH FORUM

March 21, 2002
PROCEEDINGS

CARL MARRS: Thank you, Duane, and Commonwealth North for giving me this opportunity to bring our new report results to you.

The Association of ANCSA Regional Corporation Presidents/CEOs has published a report that looks at financial data for 23 Native regional and village corporations in Alaska.

This is the second annual report we have done, and it includes information from the year 2000 for the 12 Alaska Native regional corporations and 11 Native village corporations.

Studies in the past have attempted to outline regional or statewide Native corporation performance. Although valuable contributions have been made to public understanding of Native corporations’ importance in Alaska, there has been a dramatic shift over the last decade.