“Landless” legislation was passed as an important milestone on December. 14 following the approval from Senate committee on energy and natural resources. Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee.
The bill is a long way to be passed before it becomes law. However, if it becomes law then, it will return the land to the original inhabitants in five Alaska Native communities in Southeast Alaska. These communities were excluded from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, who sponsored the bill, stated in an interview that the decision not to include it is “hampering the ability of Alaskans to promote growth and opportunities while also protecting the traditional ways of life they have always lived. Alaskans have been working to correct this injustice for over 51 years.”
ANCSA has placed thousands of acres under the hands of more than 200 newly-formed regional and local Alaska Native corporations.
Cecilia Tavoliero is the Landless delegate for Petersburg and chair of the Southeast Alaska Landless Corporation board. She was present as the bill was passed through the committee.
“Everybody was so happy. We were all so thrilled,” she said. “But we recognize that there’s still a lot to be done.”
There’s been no reason that is clear as to the reason Petersburg, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Haines, and Tenakee Springs weren’t part of ANCSA.
Senator Dan Sullivan cosponsored the bill. Rep. Mary Peltola has introduced similar legislation in the House. The Alaskan congress has introduced similar legislation to the legislature for more than two decades.
Opponents have raised fears that the new corporations will encroach on their lands, cutting areas of what was an area of the Tongass National Forest.
The timber industry has evolved in recent times. Nicole Hallingstad sits on the SeaAlaska board as well as an Petersburg representative for the Landless. She explained that Native Corporations are moving toward more environmentally sustainable business ventures.
“The sector of the Tongass is not focusing on massive timber harvests.” she added. “And we’ve had such lengthy and engaging discussions with conservationists, that a lot of the largest conservation organizations in the country are either neutral or supporting the legislation we have enacted.”
The Wilderness Society recently reversed the years of resistance to express they support the bill.
There are some who are concerned about access to the public. However, Hallingstad states that the public’s comments have assisted the Landless delegation to refine the bill.
“We’ve come up with such a robust language that we can guarantee accessibility to the public, forever for recreational activities the place you love to hunt that you enjoy picking berries, will always be open,” she said.
Access to the public was not provided by ANCSA.
If the bill in the house passes committee, both versions would be merged through a process known as “mark-up,” and then will be brought to the floor of the House to be voted on.
