History of ANCSA

An Historic Opportunity: Fulfilling the Promise to Alaska Natives
With the stroke of a pen in 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt created the Tongass National Forest, effectively signing away all aboriginal land claims in Alaska. The fight for ANCSA began at that moment.

After years of struggle and unauthorized land transfers between non-Native entities, Native voices began to rise in unison. The Alaska Federation of Natives was formed, and the first Native land claims settlements were proposed in Congress in 1967.

The 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) guaranteed the return of 44 million acres of land to Alaska Natives, the largest land claims settlement in United States history. The act also authorized the creation of regional, urban and village corporations, like Sealaska Corporation, to promote and protect the economic and cultural vitality of Alaska Natives.

The intent of ANCSA was to formally recognize the need for a fair and just land settlement that addressed the real economic and social needs of Alaska Natives. Today, Sealaska represents more than 20,000 Tsimshian, Haida and Tlingit tribal member shareholders. If Sealaska is to fulfill ANCSA requirements to serve tribal member shareholders in perpetuity, the land legislation must pass.

To learn more about the details of the land legislation please visit the pages below.

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