Settlement FAQs

what is the alaska native claims settlement act

by Mr. Herbert Gerhold Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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History:

  • The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) became law in 1971.
  • Ultimately, ANCSA will convey more than 45 million acres of land to village and regional corporations.
  • To date, over 36 million acres have been conveyed -- both Interim Conveyed (unsurveyed) and Patented (surveyed).

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The 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) directs the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to convey 45.5 million acres of public land to village and regional Native corporations. Section 17(b) of ANSCA provided for the reservation of public access easements which are now commonly referred to as 17(b) easements.

Full Answer

What is the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)?

What is the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)? The largest land settlement of its kind, ANCSA was signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 18, 1971 in order to settle Indigenous land claims in Alaska.

When did Alaska Native Land Claims end?

On December 18, 1971 Alaska Native aboriginal claims were ‘settled’ and extinguished by an Act of Congress and signed by President Nixon through the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), the largest land claims settlement in U.S. history.

How did the settlement of Alaska establish claims to land?

The settlement established Alaska Native claims to the land by transferring titles to twelve Alaska Native regional corporations and over 200 local village corporations. A thirteenth regional corporation was later created for Alaska Natives who no longer resided in Alaska.

What is § 1617 of the Alaska Native Claims Act?

§1617. Revocation of Indian allotment authority in Alaska No Native covered by the provisions of this chapter, and no descendant of his, may hereafter avail himself of an allotment under the provisions of the Act of February 8, 1887 ( 24 Stat. 389 ), as amended and supplemented, or the Act of June 25, 1910 ( 36 Stat. 363 ).

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What was the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act passed?

On December 18, 1971, Public Law 92-203, the "Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act," was signed into law by President Nixon. Public Law 92-203 was enacted by Congress to settle the claim of Alaska's native Indian Aleut and Eskimo population to aboriginal title to the land on which they have lived for generations.

What is the role of Native Settlement Act?

In 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was signed into law by President Nixon. It abrogated Native claims to aboriginal lands except those that are the subject of the law. In return, Natives retained up to 44 million acres (180,000 km2) of land and were paid $963 million.

Why the Natives of Alaska have a land claim?

The state and federal governments would have to settle land claims with Alaskan Natives if they wanted a pipeline. For months the parties involved worked to hammer out a deal. Byron Mallott: "It was all about the economic value of oil and they needed to remove this potential roadblock."

How did the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 serve the rights of Alaskan natives quizlet?

1971: Congress passes law regarding land rights of Alaska's 80 thousand Native peoples. Despite Tee-Hit-Ton, Congress provides some compensation for the taking of Native lands. Congress also agrees to grant full rights of ownership to Native peoples for large tracts of land in Alaska.

Do Native Alaskans get free land?

Who is eligible for free land in Alaska? Thanks to the Alaska Native Veterans Program of 2019, eligible veterans can claim between 2.5 acres and 160 acres of federal land in Alaska! The eligibility requirements for this program are as follows: You must be a Native veteran OR the heir of an eligible veteran.

What rights do Alaskan Natives have?

ANCSA also gave Alaska Natives ownership rights to 40 million acres of land. Of the 40 million acres, the surface rights in 22 million acres were divided among over two hundred Native villages according to their population, with each village selecting its homelands and incorporating itself under state law.

How much money do Native Alaskans get from the government?

The amount usually ranges from $1,000 to $2,000 per person ( $4,000 to $8,000 for a family of four), and the majority of Alaska's roughly 740,000 residents receive it. Last year, independent Gov.

How much of Alaska is owned by Natives?

Roughly 86 percent of Alaska's land is in public ownership (federal and state), and more than 13 percent is private land owned and managed by Alaska Natives. Those native lands span more than 44 million acres, or more than 70,000 square miles.

How do you claim land in Alaska?

The State of Alaska currently has no homesteading program for its lands. In 2012, the State made some state lands available for private ownership through two types of programs: sealed-bid auctions and remote recreation cabin sites.

Why was the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act passed?

The bill, known as the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, was signed into law on December 18, 1971. The key incentive to resolve the land claims issue was the discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay on Alaska's North Slope in 1967.

Are Alaska Natives sovereign?

Alaska Natives maintained their own forms of traditional governments and sovereignty prior to the arrival of Westerners.

Who owns the state of Alaska?

the United States governmentOn October 18, 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the United States government. As a result, the federal government owned the Alaska Territory, approximately 375 million acres (about one-fifth the size of the continental U.S.). its total area.

Which of the following was the objective of the Allotment Act?

Which of the following was the objective of the Allotment Act? The government was charged with cheating billions of dollars in royalties. It allowed tribes to adopt a written constitution for themselves. Which of the following is true of the Indian Reorganization Act?

How much land did Native Americans give up when they were forced to relocate?

But the forced relocation proved popular with voters. It freed more than 25 million acres of fertile, lucrative farmland to mostly white settlement in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

Why did the US government relocate Native Americans?

Relocation to cities, where more jobs were available, was expected to reduce poverty among Native Americans, who tended to live on isolated, rural reservations.

When were Native Americans allowed to move off reservations?

In 1953, the U.S. Congress established a new policy towards American Indians: termination. This policy eliminated much government support for Indian tribes and ended the protected trust status of all Indian-owned lands.

Who signed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act?

On December 18, 1971, President Richard Nixon addressed the delegates of AFN by phone and informed them that he had just signed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act into law. At the time of its passage, ANCSA was entirely different than any previous federal Indian policy.

How much did the federal government pay for the Alaska Native settlement?

The federal government also compensated the newly formed Alaska Native corporations a total of $962.5 million for land lost in the settlement agreement. ANCSA had expansive effects, reaching far beyond Alaska Native people.

Why is ANCSA important?

To understand ANCSA, it is important to understand the history of aboriginal land claims in Alaska.

How long did Alaska Native corporations have to be exempt from federal securities laws?

Originally, ANCSA exempted Alaska Native corporations from some federal securities laws for twenty years. Because Alaska Native corporation stocks were not eligible to be sold or disposed of during the twenty-year period after the passage of ANCSA, many federal securities laws did not apply.

What is the ANCSA?

https://vilda.alaska.edu/. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) was a new approach by Congress to federal Indian policy. ANCSA extinguished aboriginal land title in Alaska. It divided the state into twelve distinct regions and mandated the creation of twelve private, for-profit Alaska Native regional corporations ...

How many regions did Alaska have?

ANCSA divided Alaska into twelve regions defined by the common heritage and shared interests of the indigenous peoples within each geographic area. The regional boundaries established which people, villages, and communities that each Alaska Native regional corporation would serve. The boundaries do not directly represent land ownership; they did, however, define the areas in which each regional corporation could select lands to be conveyed under the provisions ANCSA. Today, within each region there is a complex landscape of governance, land ownership, roles, and relationships.

Why was the Alaska Federation of Natives formed?

1966: The Alaska Federation of Native is formed to advocate for a land claims settlement. The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) formed in 1966 in response to the land claims issues that were being brought forth by various organized Alaska Native groups.

When was the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act signed?

Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) – A federal law signed by President Jimmy Carter on December 2 , 1980, which created 43,585,000 acres of new national parklands in Alaska, and established the addition of 9,800,000 acres of land to the National Wildlife Refuge System. Much like ANCSA, ANILCA was created to

What is an Alaska Native Village Corporation?

Alaska Native Village Corporation – Corporations created by ANCSA that are smaller than the overarching regional corporations. Each village had the option to create a village corporation, and Alaska Native residents of the village had the option to enroll as shareholders. Similar to the regional corporations, shareholders receive dividends from the village corporations and can’t buy or sell their shares. Not everyone who is enrolled in a regional corporation is enrolled in a village corporation.

What is a non profit tribal organization?

Non-Profit Tribal Organizations – These organizations work with villages in their region to provide social, education, health, tribal and other services for the community. Some of these tribes, tribal organizations and tribal consortia have roots or were formed in the mid-to-early 20th century. Others were created to lobby for ANCSA or were formed later. With passage of the Indian Self Determination and Educational Assistance Act, they began compacting and contracting with the federal government.

How many acres are there in Chugach Alaska?

Chugach Alaska Corporation – This regional corporation oversees around 10 million acres on the Kenai Peninsula and the coast of Prince William Sound. Of that, it oversees 928,000 acres. Its main Alaska Native cultural groups are Alutiiq (Sugpiaq), Eyak (Athabascan), and Tlingit. In the Chugach region there are: 5 village corporations, 7 communities, and 5 tribes.

How many beds does Alaska Native Medical Center have?

Alaska Native Medical Center – ANMC is a 173-bed hospital that offers comprehensive acute care, medical specialities, primary care services and labs for Alaska Native people. The hospital works closely with rural tribal health facilities statewide, and is jointly managed by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Southcentral Foundation.

How many acres are there in the Arctic Slope?

Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) – This regional corporation covers around 55 – 60 million acres of land in the North Slope. Of that, it oversees 5 million acres. Its main Alaska Native cultural group is Inupiat. In the ASRC region are: 8 village corporations, 8 communities, and 8 tribes.

What is a village in Alaska?

Village – Villages are small communities in Alaska that typically stemmed from traditional Alaska Native land and still remain predominantly Alaska Native today. They are mostly in remote parts of the state, not connected to roads and reachable only by boat or plane. Many villages are recognized as tribes.

How many acres of land has ANCSA been conveyed?

Ultimately, ANCSA will convey more than 45 million acres of land to village and regional corporations. To date, over 36 million acres have been conveyed -- both Interim Conveyed (unsurveyed) and Patented (surveyed). Section 17 (b) of ANCSA provided for the reservation of public access easements which are now commonly referred to as 17 (b) easements.

Does BLM mark easements?

The state has inquired how it can expedite the marking of easements. BLM has indicated that they are not marking easements unless invited to do so by the affected corporation.

What is the suspension of land selection in Alaska?

In the event that the State initiates litigation or voluntarily becomes a party to litigation to contest the authority of the United States to legislate on the subject matter or the legality of this chapter, all rights of land selection granted to the State by the Alaska Statehood Act shall be suspended as to any public lands which are determined by the Secretary to be potentially valuable for mineral development, timber, or other commercial purposes, and no selections shall be made, no tentative approvals shall be granted, and no patents shall be issued for such lands during the pendency of such litigation. In the event of such suspension, the State's right of land selection pursuant to section 6 of the Alaska Statehood Act shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period of time the selection right was suspended.

What is section 6 of the Alaska Statehood Act?

(g), is section 6 (g) of Pub. L. 85–508, July 7, 1958, 72 Stat. 339, as amended, which is set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.

What is the boundary between the Chugach and the Southeastern?

Pub. L. 94–204, §11, Jan. 2, 1976, 89 Stat. 1150, provided that: "The boundary between the southeastern and Chugach regions shall be the 141st meridian: Provided, That the Regional Corporation for the Chugach region shall accord to the Natives enrolled to the Village of Yakutat the same rights and privileges to use any lands which may be conveyed to the Regional Corporation in the vicinity of Icy Bay for such purposes as such Natives have traditionally made thereof, including, but not limited to, subsistence hunting, fishing and gathering, as the Regional Corporation accords to its own shareholders, and shall take no unreasonable or arbitrary action relative to such lands for the primary purpose and having the effect, of impairing or curtailing such rights and privileges."

When was the Tlingit and Haida Indians case?

The funds appropriated by the Act of July 9, 1968 ( 82 Stat. 307 ), to pay the judgment of the Court of Claims in the case of The Tlingit and Haida Indians of Alaska, et al. against The United States, numbered 47,900, and distributed to the Tlingit and Haida Indians pursuant to the Act of July 13, 1970 ( 84 Stat. 431 ), are in lieu of the additional acreage to be conveyed to qualified villages listed in section 1610 of this title.

Is the receipt of shares of stock in the Regional or Village Corporations subject to any form of federal, state or?

The receipt of shares of stock in the Regional or Village Corporations by or on behalf of any Native shall not be subject to any form of Federal, State or local taxation.

Can a regional corporation amend its articles of incorporation?

(A) A Regional Corporation may amend its articles of incorporation to authorize the issuance of shares of stock other than Settlement Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph . Such amendment may provide that—

Can the Village Corporations select lands in Alaska?

In the event that the Secretary withdraws a utility and transportation corridor across public lands in Alaska pursuant to his existing authority, the State, the Village Corporations and the Regional Corporations shall not be permitted to select lands from the area withdraw n.

When was the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act signed?

Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) - A federal law signed by President Jimmy Carter on December 2 , 1980 , which created 43,585,000 acres of new national parklands in Alaska, and established the addition of 9,800,000 acres of land to the National Wildlife Refuge System.

What is an Alaska Native village corporation?

Alaska Native Village Corporation - Corporations created by ANCSA that are smaller than the overarching regional corporations. Each village had the option to create a village corporation, and Alaska Native residents of the village had the option to enroll as shareholders. Similar to the regional corporations, shareholders receive dividends from the village corporations and can’t buy or sell their shares. Not everyone who is enrolled in a regional corporation is enrolled in a village corporation.

What is a non profit tribal organization?

Non-Profit Tribal Organizations - These organizations work with villages in their region to provide social, education, health, tribal and other services for the community. Some of these tribes, tribal organizations and tribal consortia have roots or were formed in the mid-to-early 20th century. Others were created to lobby for ANCSA or were formed later. With passage of the Indian Self Determination and Educational Assistance Act, they began compacting and contracting with the federal government.

How many acres are there in Chugach Alaska?

Chugach Alaska Corporation - This regional corporation oversees around 10 million acres on the Kenai Peninsula and the coast of Prince William Sound. Of that, it oversees 928,000 acres. Its main Alaska Native cultural groups are Alutiiq (Sugpiaq), Eyak (Athabascan), and Tlingit. In the Chugach region there are: 5 village corporations, 7 communities, and 5 tribes.

What is a village in Alaska?

Village - Villages are small communities in Alaska that typically stemmed from traditional Alaska Native land and still remain predominantly Alaska Native today. They are mostly in remote parts of the state, not connected to roads and reachable only by boat or plane. Many villages are recognized as tribes.

How many acres are there in the Arctic Slope?

Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) - This regional corporation covers around 55 - 60 million acres of land in the North Slope. Of that, it oversees 5 million acres. Its main Alaska Native cultural group is Inupiat. In the ASRC region are: 8 village corporations, 8 communities, and 8 tribes.

What is an ANC?

Alaska Native Regional Corporation (ANC) - ANCs are the 13 for profit corporations formed under ANCSA. Each company, aside from the 13th corporation, received a parcel of land and a cash amount, based on the location of their traditional cultural lands.

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Timeline of Significant Events: How Ancsa Came to Be

The Mandates of Ancsa

  • December 18, 1971 marked a new era for federal Indian policy. It was also a significant day for Alaska Native peoples on an individual level. Several provisions of ANCSA affected individuals in ways that neither they nor the federal government really understood at the time. ANCSA original language addressed the specific congressional mandates of Al...
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The 1991 Amendments

  • Several original provisions of ANCSA that dealt with stocks and shareholder eligibility were set to expire in 1991, twenty years after passage of the bill. Expiration of the provisions presupposed that between 1971 and 1991, Alaska Native shareholders would gain a strong grasp of corporate ownership and activities and be ready to make significant decisions that would potentially impa…
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