Bill Overview
Title: Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act
Description: 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. Interior must also convey to each urban corporation 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.
Sponsors: Rep. Peltola, Mary Sattler [D-AK-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: Alaska Native residents of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell
Estimated Size: 1950
- The bill impacts Alaska Native residents in the communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell, Alaska.
- The Alaska Native community accounts for about 15% of the total population of Alaska.
- According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the population of these five communities (Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell) combined is approximately 13,000 people.
- Assuming that the Alaska Native residents in these communities represent around 15% of the total population, an estimate can be calculated: 13,000 * 0.15 = 1,950 people.
- The bill's provision to establish urban corporations and convey land includes only Alaska Native residents, not the general population of these towns.
Reasoning
- The policy directly impacts Alaska Native residents in the specified communities, estimated at 1,950 people, making a small, focused target demographic.
- The budget limitation suggests potential constraints on the extent of land and resources distributed initially, especially for urban corporation establishment and associated overhead.
- Considering cultural, land, and heritage preservation as core benefits, the impact is likely substantial on identity and continuity of Alaska Native cultures.
- Some Alaska residents not directly impacted may view the policy as preferential, creating differing opinions on resource allocation.
- Need to account for varying perspectives within different demographic groups across the U.S., including those who see the importance of addressing historical injustices and others who focus on current social and economic inequalities.
Simulated Interviews
Fisherman (Ketchikan, Alaska)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe the policy is a step forward for recognizing our communities' rightful claims.
- It's important for the younger generations to have a tangible connection to their land.
- Concerns about how the management of resources will be handled.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Teacher (Petersburg, Alaska)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will help strengthen our community's cultural heritage.
- However, we need more extensive educational resources about the policy's benefits and management expectations.
- I worry about how disputes over land use will be resolved.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Tourism Operator (Haines, Alaska)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a critical opportunity for economic growth through tourism and heritage-related ventures.
- I'm eager to see more young people getting involved and bringing new ideas to our community.
- We need clear guidelines on how the land will be utilized to prevent conflicts and preserve our environment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Legal Analyst (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Though I am not directly affected, I believe this policy can set a precedent for addressing the historical weight native communities have carried.
- The success here could influence broader indigenous rights matters in our legal framework.
- There's potential for non-native backlash that we need to navigate delicately.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Economist (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- From an economic perspective, targeted policies like these can have significant localized impacts but may strain budgets if expanded.
- Monitoring implementation can provide insights into effective social policy design for marginalized communities.
- There needs to be accountability to ensure the economic potential is realized without excessive bureaucratic overhead.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Healthcare Worker (Wrangell, Alaska)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The potential for improving community health through empowered regional governance excites me.
- Seeing direct impacts on public health resources will be a game changer.
- We need to ensure that health and education services are prioritized in the distribution of resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Construction Worker (Tenakee, Alaska)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that the policy will bring jobs in urban development and construction.
- However, the success of this policy heavily relies on sustainable job creation.
- The local market needs to manage its resources wisely to ensure long-term growth.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cultural Historian (New York, New York)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a powerful example of cultural preservation in tandem with economic empowerment.
- It's promising to see legislative efforts recognizing historically unacknowledged communities.
- I am curious to see how cultural identities evolve with increased resource accessibility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Politician (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Seeing this policy through will help negotiate other similar bills impacting indigenous peoples.
- The challenge is ensuring the policy is fair, equitable, and sustainable in budget while delivering results.
- It's crucial to keep the broader Alaskan public informed to prevent misunderstanding about resource allocation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Environmental Scientist (San Francisco, California)
Age: 41 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm particularly interested in the environmental impacts of how the land is managed post-policy.
- Balancing economic gain with ecological preservation is essential.
- This could showcase indigenous knowledge in resource management on a broader scale.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 3: $5100000 (Low: $3060000, High: $8160000)
Year 5: $5200000 (Low: $3120000, High: $8320000)
Year 10: $5500000 (Low: $3300000, High: $8800000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $16000000)
Key Considerations
- The initial and ongoing costs are influenced by the specific land valuation and related administrative expenses.
- Uncertainties surround the exact economic impacts due to variations in local economic developments.
- The establishment of these urban corporations and trusts could provide ongoing social benefits beyond direct economic measures.