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Special Programs

Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act

Bilingual / Bicultural Programs
2002 Bilingual Conference Speech

ANCSA
To review the sections of the Claims Act, select any of the sections below to "open" and read. Selecting another section automatically closes the one you're reading.

  • This Act, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 USC 1601-1624) -- Public Law 92-203, approved December 18, 1971 (85 Stat. 688), and repeatedly amended, authorized Alaska Natives to select and receive title to 44 million acres of public land in Alaska, and nearly $1 Billion in cash as settlement of their aboriginal claim to land in the State. The Act established a system of village and regional Native corporations to manage the lands and cash payments, and made extensive provisions regarding the operations of the corporations. Special provisions were made for, and restrictions placed on, selection of lands within existing National Wildlife Refuges.

    The Act also required the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw up to 80 million acres of existing public land for specific consideration as new national wildlife refuges, national parks, national forests and wild and scenic rivers. These lands were to remain in a special withdrawal category until Congress completed action on the proposals or until December 1978. On October 14, 1978, the 95th Congress adjourned without passing the necessary legislation or an extension of the existing protection for these lands.

    From 1977 to 1980, the Secretary exercised his authority under Section 204(e) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (90 Stat. 2743) to withdraw from mineral entry and State selection for three years approximately 110 million acres in Alaska which had been under consideration for inclusion in the national conservation systems.

    In recognition of special scientific values and to provide further protection to some of these areas, in 1978 and 1979, the President proclaimed 17 national monuments comprising 56 million acres. This action was taken under authority of the Antiquities Act of 1906.

    Since this time, ANCSA has impacted the Natives of Alaska is many different ways. The most recent controversy is that of "subsistence rights." Subsistence is a lifestyle based on thousands of years of traditional hunting and gathering. Modern life and competition from sports hunters has reduced access to these traditional resources. The controversy comes when outside agencies that manage fish and game begin to make restrictions based on sports hunters needs verses those of Native Alaskans. For more information on the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, see ANCSA Details.

    The Northwest Arctic Borough School District, in 1986, completed a student curriculum for ANCSA to educate students on the law that has and will impact generations of Alaska Natives. This project is designed to allow students a forum to learn and discuss issues that affect Natives statewide. For more information, see Instructional Units.