Recent SE survey shows Sealaska land bill aligned with community priorities

Sealaska recently commissioned an opinion survey of 600 Southeast Alaska residents to learn more about their values and beliefs, including their awareness of S. 881 the Haa Aaní land bill. Key findings include:

Southeast residents support Haa Aaní, and support for the legislation increases as respondents learn more about it.
Southeast residents’ top urgent goal is creating jobs and improving the economy.
The majority of SE residents believe the management of the Tongass National Forest needs to be balanced between providing jobs and protecting fish and habitat.

Learn more about the survey

Community outreach for the Sealaska land bill
The recent survey is one component of Sealaska’s multi-year effort to better understand the priorities of Southeast and ensure that the land legislation aligns with those priorities. To date, over 200 stakeholders meetings have been held around the region, and during the last two days, the CEOs of the Regional Alaska Native Corporations along with Alaska Federation of Natives have met at Sealaska in Juneau. Both the regional CEOs and AFN strongly support passage of the legislation.

“This legislation is the culmination of years of effort, guided by our cultural values and the priorities expressed by Southeast stakeholders,” said Chris E. McNeil, Jr, Sealaska tribal member shareholder and President and CEO. “It will serve as a new model for balancing social, cultural, environmental and economic values throughout the region.”

Sealaska’s land legislation: in alignment with the priorities of Southeast
Under current law, much of the land available for Sealaska’s land selection is in inventoried roadless areas, intact watersheds, municipal watersheds, and high value fish and wildlife habitat important for subsistence resources and to commercial fisheries. Sealaska agrees with many members of the conservation community that these lands are better suited for public ownership. The Haa Aaní land bill will allow Sealaska to select land outside these federally mandated withdrawl areas, and fulfill our final entitlement of 85,000 acres - no more lacres than what is originally owned to Sealaska under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

More than 70% of the acres identified in the bill are roaded. The bill provides for protection of old growth forest and unprecedented land access.

Haa Aaní also creates economically sustainable “Native Futures” sites - areas that will extend the 120-day visitor season by creating new non-extractive business enterprise such as eco-tourism, natural history, cultural research, education and teaching Native arts and crafts in a natural setting.

“Native futures sites are small selections that capture our rich culture and heritage - they are intended to diversify local economies and preserve environmental sustainability into the future,” said Dr. Rosita Worl, tribal member shareholder and board vice chair.

Learn more about the Haa Aaní legislation

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