Native America Calling

Today, January 31– Is there room for trust land in Alaska?

A city lot in Juneau recently became the first land ever put into trust for the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. It’s only the second tribal land put into trust in the country’s largest state. The trouble is, the state believes the trust designation by the U.S. Department of Interior undermines the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, that specifically prohibits the federal government from considering land-into-trust applications in Alaska. We get the back story on the Alaska trust land process and what it means for Alaska Natives with Richard Peterson (Tlingit from the Kaagwaantaan clan), president of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska; Joe Nelson (Tlingit), board chair of Sealaska; and Lloyd Miller, partner of Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson & Perry.

To join the discussion, call 1-800-996-2848