Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act

Alaska Native Regional Corporations

The first two decades after the passage of the Act, the twelve land-based Alaska Native regional corporations faced many challenges including the sometimes difficult job of fulfilling the land entitlements set out in the Act. In addition, the corporations struggled to make profitable investments and to grow successful businesses in the early years. Now, nearly 40 years since the passage of the Act, the twelve Alaska Native regional corporations are becoming an economic force in Alaska, owning and operating large businesses within the state, providing jobs and dividends to their shareholders.

What is perhaps the most noteworthy about ANCSA and the regional corporations is that the traditional Alaska business model has been turned on its head. Ever since Alaska was first colonized by the Russians, the model has been for outsiders to exploit Alaska's resources, such as furs, gold and oil, and export the profits outside the state. With Alaska Native corporations, the model is reversed. Alaska Native corporations are firmly rooted in Alaska and will always be. But besides doing business in Alaska, they are doing business throughout the United States, and in some cases, around the world. Profits earned from these businesses are returned to Alaska headquarters where they are used to create Alaska jobs and pay dividends to the Alaska Native shareholders, the majority of whom live in the state.

Besides the direct economic impact of the corporations, Alaska Native people have begun a process of developing enduring institutions that provide important services to Alaska Native people. Among these are those founded by CIRI: Alaska Native Heritage Center, The CIRI Foundation, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Southcentral Foundation, Cook Inlet Housing Authority, Kohanic Broadcasting Corporation and the Alaska Native Justice Center.

Alaska Native corporate leaders face the challenge of being both concerned about the social and cultural well being of Alaska Native people in general, the Alaska Native shareholders in particular, as well as the bottom-line. But at its heart, ANCSA is about creating opportunities, not entitlements. Through continued growth, Alaska Native regional corporations will have a positive influence on Alaska's economic and social development for generations to come.