Representatives from Sealaska were in Wrangell last week to hold a community-wide meeting on the topic of partnering with Haa Aani to discuss economic development and to hammer out the final form of an initiative to repatriate Native lands to shareholders in Southeast Alaska.
The bill, the Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization and Jobs Protection Act, would amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 and would cede hundreds of thousands of acres to Sealaska.
If passed, it would allow Sealaska to select lands outside the original areas of ANCSA to fulfill the corporation’s remaining land entitlement.
According to Sealaska’s Executive Vice President, Rick Harris, the lands they are seeking would result in better conservation of lands, provide lands to meet economic and social needs to shareholders, and fulfill a goal of sustainable forestry in Southeast.
If not passed, “Sealaska may be forced to cease its timber operations within 2-3 years without additional timber from our remaining entitlement of these lands,” Harris said.
When ANCSA was enacted in 1971, Wrangell and Petersburg were among five communities to be excluded from incorporation, meaning the Native Alaskans in those cities were not granted title to any of the traditionally inhabited lands.
Harris added that Haa Aani would focus on creating better conditions for Native shareholders in the future in Southeast.
“Haa Aani, a subsidiary of Sealaska, is a group working for the specific purpose of improving the economic viability of Southeast communities through expansion of the regional economy and by fostering new and sustainable industries within rural communities,” Harris said.
According to Harris, Haa Aani is becoming involved in the process because “Southeast Alaska’s rural communities are suffering high unemployment rates, the loss of traditional and a stagnant economy.”
Native future sites, sacred sites and economic development lands will encompass the plan Haa Aani and Sealaska say they are seeking to bring back into the Native fold.
3,600 acres are to be set aside for sacred sites under the plan, while 5,000 acres, spread out among 30 sites, will be offered for their “unique cultural, historical and recreational experiences, as well as renewable energy opportunities.”
Beyond those 8,600 acres, Sealaska would take ownership of between 65,000-75,000 acres of entitlement lands that would be specifically meant for economic development.
“Timber lands would encompass most of that acreage and would be managed for forestry activities,” Harris added.
According to Harris, the group remains optimistic that the bill will pass prior to the November elections.
“I think we have to act and believe that this will pass before this Congress end,” Harris said. “We’re using our resources to make that happen.”
Since 1998, the Sealaska Board of Directors and Sealaska have contributed nearly $1 million in an effort to gain ANCSA corporate status for Haines, Tenakee, Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan.
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