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Native America Calling: Southeast Alaska tribes closer to land designation more than a half century after being locked out
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
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Southeast Alaska tribes closer to land designation more than a half century after being locked out
A bill making its way through Congress offers new hope for five Native communities in Southeast Alaska to secure their own land for the first time.

For more than 50 years following the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), the five tribes left out of the pivotal agreement that fundamentally changed tribal governance and land ownership in the state have been working to secure their homelands. Tribal leaders celebrated as the bill cleared the U.S. House of Representatives as H.R.41, the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act.

But it’s not without opposition; environmental groups and others worry the land transfer will turn over vast expanses of pristine old growth wilderness to a for-profit corporation intent on maximizing financial returns through extensive timber harvests and mining.

Tune into Native America Calling to hear about what this latest policy momentum accomplishes and discuss how we got here.

Indianz.Com Audio: H.R.41, the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

Guests on Native America Calling
Cecilia Tavoliero (Tlingit), president of the Southeast Alaska Landless Corporation

Nicole Hallingstad (Tlingit), manager for the Center for Climate and Health at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

Sandy Churchill (Tlingit), vice president of the Wrangell Cooperative Association in Alaska

Albert Rinehart (Tlingit), tribal administrator for Wrangell Cooperative Association in Alaska

Louise Brady (Tlingit), Kiks.ádi clan member and elder in Alaska

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