Discussion: Resource Management in the Context of Alaska
Native Village Corporations
EE Discussion Group
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June 4, 2003
General Facts

Land Status (Alaska’s 375 million acres)
Federal
–
Approximately 234 million acres (will be 217 million acres when
conveyances are complete):
•
•
•
•
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Bureau of Land Management (86 million acres-will be 70)
US Fish and Wildlife Service (71 million acres) (manage Alaska’s
16 National Wildlife Refuges)
US Park Service (54 million acres)
US Forest Service (22 million acres)
General Facts

Land Status (Alaska’s 375 million acres)
–
State
Approximately 91 million acres (will be 104.5 million acres) granted in
the Alaska Statehood Act – includes several million acres of State
conservation areas
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General Facts

Land Status (Alaska’s 375 million acres)
–
Alaska Native
Approximately 37.5 million acres (will be 45.6 million):
•
Village Corporations (202 original, 173 current; maintain
surface rights) and Regional Corporations (13; maintain subsurface rights): 22.1 million acres
•
Regional Corporation (surface and subsurface rights): 19.3
million acres (Doyon’s share 12.5 million acres)
•
Reserves (5 former reserves retained land – did not receive
ANSCA cash payment) – maintain surface and subsurface
rights: (3.98 million acres)
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General Facts

Land Status (Alaska’s 375 million acres)
–
Alaska Native
80,000 Alaska Native shareholders
•those living in village became members of Village and Regional Corp;
•those living outside village as an “at large” shareholder in regional
corp.;
•those living outside AK as shareholders in Sea Alaska Corp.
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Map 1
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General Facts

Subsistence Use and Constraints
–
Federal lands – rural subsistence preference
title VIII of ANILCA “… pursuant to Titles II through VII of this Act, the
purpose of this title is to provide the opportunity for rural residents
engaged in a subsistence way of life to do so… the taking of
such population for non-wasteful subsistence uses shall be given
preference on the public lands over other consumptive uses
… Federal land managing agencies, in managing subsistence
activities on the public lands and in protecting the continued
viability of all wild renewable resources in Alaska, shall cooperate
with adjacent landowners and land managers…”
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General Facts

Subsistence Use and Constraints
–
Federal lands – rural subsistence preference
Subsistence defined as: “the customary and traditional uses by rural
Alaska residents of wild renewable resources for direct personal
or family consumption as food, shelter, fuel, clothing, tools, or
transportation; for the making and selling of handicraft articles
out of non-edible byproducts of fish and wildlife resources taken for
personal or family consumption; for barter, or sharing for personal
or family consumption; and for customary trade” title VIII, ANILCA
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General Facts

Subsistence Use and Constraints
–
State and all other private lands – no rural
preference
Initially, Feds allowed State fish and game enforcement on Federal
lands if rural subsistence preference adopted on State and Private
lands
1989 AK Supreme Court (McDowell v. AK) ruled preference based on
rural /urban status unconstitutional – Feds now control fish and
game management on Federal land.
no rural or Native subsistence priority
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Map 2. Doyon Region
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General Facts

Land Management
–
Federal (234 million acres)

BLM (86 million acres)
–
–
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general land use goals: promote environmentally sound
resource development and recreational opportunities
general wildlife management goals: to promote high
quality habitat conditions and to provide subsistence
and consumptive sport uses
General Facts

Land Management
–
Federal (234 million acres)

US Fish and Wildlife Service (71 million acres)
–
–
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primary goal: conservation
allow for subsistence use and some consumptive sport
use.
General Facts

Land Management
–
Federal (234 million acres)

US Park Service (54 million acres)
–
–
–
–
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manages National Parks and Preserves
general goal is conservation – “a natural and healthy
population” – ANILCA defines
park lands: subsistence is only consumptive use
preserve lands: subsistence and consumptive sport use
General Facts

Land Management
–
Federal (234 million acres)

US Forest Service (22 million acres)
–
–
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general land use goals: promote environmentally sound
resource development and recreational opportunities
general wildlife management goals: to promote high
quality habitat conditions and to provide subsistence
and consumptive sport uses
General Facts

Land Management
–
State – (90.6 million acres)
“to develop, conserve, and enhance natural resources for
present and future Alaskans.”
–
–
–
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no rural subsistence priority
State Parks – mixed rules
Other subsistence and consumptive sport uses
General Facts
Land Management

–
Alaska Native Lands (37.5 million acres)


Regional Corporation – mixed goals
Village
–
–
–
–
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Village Corporation – frequent goal is to maximize subsistence
resources for shareholder use but this is not always the case
Traditional Village Council – generally to maximize subsistence
resources
Tribal IRA Government – generally to maximize subsistence
resources
Municipal government – ?
Map 2. Doyon Region
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Map 3 Dinyee Corporation (Stevens Village – source, Doyon Lands)
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Map 1
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