About ANCSA (Corps and Tribes)
Thursday, November 4, 2021

ANCSA Corporations and Tribes

  • ANCSA Corporations and tribes serve many of the same constituents – both have a mission to improve the lives of our shareholders and tribal citizens.
  • Relationship can be collaborative
    • Supporting traditional ways of life (subsistence)
    • Sustainable rural communities; employment
    • Education
    • Cultural and language preservation
    • Land into trust
Celebration 1998

There can be disagreement

  • ANCSA corporations as “tribes” for purpose of specific federal acts
  • Conservation vs. economic development
  • Political differences can arise (e.g. CARES Act funding and Roadless Rule)
  • Recent efforts through “Being Good Relatives” to bridge the divide

Relationship with Tribes
There was congressional intent and expectation that tribes would cease to exist as a result of ANCSA. However, tribes did not disappear. We are tribal people.

Tribal governments in Alaska continue to be recognized by the federal government, which maintains a government-to-government relationship with tribes. Tribes participate through contracting and compacting in programs established for the benefit of tribes and tribal citizens. Tribes also exercise sovereign authority over their memberships – they set their own standards for inclusion, which often do not rely on blood quantum – and their children through the Indian Child Welfare Act. However, very little land is held in trust for Alaska tribes.


Latest News


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Posted 2/7/2025
KETCHIKAN, Alaska—The Sealaska Board of Directors is holding its first meeting of 2025 in Ketchikan this week, reinforcing its commitment to deepening connections with communities and partner organizations as we work together to create balance for people and the planet. Strong partnerships with local organizations across our shareholders’ communities remain central to Sealaska’s mission. Source

Notice of 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Posted 2/6/2025
The 2025 Sealaska Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held Saturday, June 21 at Kake Community Building, located at 264 Keku Road, Kake, Alaska 99830. Sealaska will share a live webcast of the annual meeting through the MySealaska.com shareholder portal for those unable to attend in person. Here is some key information, including important deadlines, for shareholders: Complete or… Source

Sealaska Shareholder 1099 Forms Now Available on MySealaska.com

Posted 1/23/2025
Sealaska encourages shareholders to register on MySealaska.com so they are able to download and print their 1099 tax forms to include with their tax filing. If you are a new shareholder who is registering with MySealaska, we offer a few tips below. Sealaska 2024 –1099 tax forms are now available Shareholders can create an account or log in to MySealaska.com > click About Me > click… Source

ISER report summarizes decades of research to draw sobering conclusions

Posted 1/17/2025
Contact: Amy Miller, 907-229-3524 amy.miller@tnc.org Alaska’s economy lost billions in fisheries earnings over the last 50 years ISER report summarizes decades of research to draw sobering conclusions JUNEAU — A new report by the University of Alaska’s Institute of Social and Economic Research summarizes results from a variety of sources to draw a clear and compelling… Source

Sealaska and Tlingit & Haida Strengthen Regional Collaboration

Posted 12/13/2024
We are pleased to announce that Tlingit & Haida Executive Council and Sealaska board of directors met to engage in meaningful discussions on issues that matter most to tribal citizens and shareholders. This collaborative meeting was an important step toward finding pathways to create mutually beneficial outcomes while strengthening entities to better serve people and communities. Source