Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

This bill allows five Alaska Native communities in Southeast Alaska to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements.

Specifically, the bill allows the Alaska Native residents of each of the Alaska Native villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell, Alaska, to organize as Alaska Native urban corporations and to receive certain settlement land.

The bill directs the Department of the Interior to convey specified land to each urban corporation. Further, Interior must convey the subsurface estate for that land to the regional corporation for Southeast Alaska.

The land conveyed to each urban corporation must include any U.S. interest in all roads, trails, log transfer facilities, leases, and appurtenances on or related to the land conveyed to the urban corporation.

The bill also allows each urban corporation to establish a settlement trust to (1) promote the health, education, and welfare of the trust beneficiaries; and (2) preserve the Alaska Native heritage and culture of their communities.

Bill 118 hr 4748, also known as the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to provide recognition and compensation to Native communities in Southeast Alaska that have historically been unrecognized by the federal government.

The bill aims to address the injustices faced by these communities, including the loss of land, resources, and cultural heritage. It seeks to establish a process for the federal government to officially recognize these communities and provide them with the necessary resources and support to preserve their cultural identity and way of life.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for compensation to be provided to these communities for the historical injustices they have faced. This compensation is intended to help these communities rebuild and thrive, and to address the long-standing disparities they have experienced. Overall, the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act is a significant piece of legislation that seeks to right historical wrongs and provide much-needed support to Native communities in Southeast Alaska. It represents an important step towards reconciliation and justice for these communities.