Alaska Natives without Land: Wrangell Land Selection

Last November 2020, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan introduced Senate Bill 4889 titled the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Fulfillment Act of 2020.  As explained in the Delegation’s press release, the purpose of a portion of the Act is to allow the Alaska Native communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg and Tenakee to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) from which they were previously excluded.

The legislation was not acted upon and will be reintroduced, with potential modifications,  by the Senators in July or August.  Congressman Young recently introduced in the House the same bill that was submitted last year.

In February there was a town hall meeting with the Alaska Natives without Lands Committee to discuss the issues and the selected areas. In June, representatives from Senators Murkowski and Sullivan's offices visited Wrangell to meet with the Assembly to discuss Borough concerns. Based on that discussion, the community needs to look at the attached maps and identify any trails, roads, and issues of concern and provide that to staff by July 6.  Borough staff needs your assistance to identify any trails and roads, so that they can be submitted for access easements to guarantee continued public access after lands are transferred to the Urban Corporation. 

Public is encouraged to review the legislation and the attached maps showing lands being proposed for selection by the new Urban Corporation for Wrangell.  If you have comments, can identify other trails or roads not on these maps, please email wrangell@wrangell.com or call Carol at City Hall 907-874-2381.

(Please be aware, legislation below is what was introduced in the House.  A new piece of legislation will be introduced in the Senate this session. The attached bill should be considered the most recent iteration of legislation available for review.)