Module IX - Alaska Governance and Contemporary Issues

Essential Question:
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act 1980 has been supported and derided by Alaskans, both in 1980 when it was passed and today.  Describe three impacts of this landmark legislation.

National Conservation Areas in ANILCA

The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) was passed in 1980. It set aside 104 million acres of federal land in Alaska under the status of monuments, preserves, and wildlife refuges as well as adding to the national park and national forest systems. It is also considered the last major land act for Alaska. The implementation of ANILCA has given ownership of 60% of Alaska to the federal government. Most of this land is in conservation reserves that are off limits to most economic development. The government regulates mining, cabin building, road/trail building, use of motorized vehicles, use of tools, hunting, fishing, and recreational activities. It provides protection to a significant area of the state previously open to mining and other kinds of entry. In all of these areas, wildlife, water and land resources are more fully protected than ever before. For a list of these areas, you can visit this site.

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Cartoon

Conservationists in America were happy at first, that is, until they began to carefully review the bill. They were disappointed because Senators Stevens and Gravel and Congressman Young wrote a lot of exceptions into the act. Some of them included drawing boundaries around lands of economic potential, which excluded them from the conservation units, ecosystems were cut up or incomplete, and lands that were wanted to be named as parks were named as preserves. Preserves allow sport hunting and other kinds of activities that were banned from the Lower 48 parks.






Snow machines, motorboats, and floatplanes, as well as high-profiled rifles, chain saws, and cabins would be allowed in areas called “wilderness”. The act also allowed prospecting on most land known to have mineral or oil potential. It guaranteed access by floatplane, motorboat and snow machine to millions of acres. Access was guaranteed in holdings in the national parks and refuges. Access was also protected to state lands and waters that lie within federal units. After reviewing the exemptions, some critics wondered if it could be called a conservation act at all. However, it did provide a framework for preservation in Alaska.

Subsistence Fishing

ANILCA also impacted the issue of subsistence. Title VIII of ANILCA granted a subsistence priority for rural residents at any time of inadequate resource availability. The state of Alaska had to enact the subsistence priority law that would align with ANILCA in order for the federal government to grant Alaska the management of fish and game on all Alaska lands. However, in 1982, Proposition #7 was introduced and sought to overturn the subsistence law by citizens initiative. This proposition was defeated. There were several court cases battling the subsistence priority law and eventually, in 1989, it is found that the state had failed to amend the state constitution and the Federal Government took over the management of Federal lands. They also took over fisheries and federal waters in 1999 creating a dual system of fish/game management in Alaska.

Albert Howard dresses a harbor seal he shot for subsistence in Angoon. PHOTO BY MICHAEL PENN

Examine:
Identify the Alaska Senate and House Districts in which you live (Use current, not pending, letter and number.) Identify the name and political party of your state senator and representative.  Identify the type of local government you have (city? borough? what class?)  Identify the tribal government, if any, in your area, and if possible find out if it is an IRA or traditional council.

I live in Eagle River. The House District is 17 and Senate District I. Anna Fairclough is the current Representative and is a part of the Republican Party. Fred Dyson is the Senator and is a part of the Republican Party also. Eagle River is a City in the Borough of Anchorage.

Anna Fairclough

Fred Dyson

Alaska Native Corporations

The Anchorage area has the Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC). It was established in 1983 and serves more than 12,000 people each year through programs in eight different areas:
1.    Helping hands
2.    Nurturing Families
3.    Supporting Youth
4.    Growing Graduates
5.    Developing Skills
6.    Finding Jobs
7.    Promoting Business
8.    Achieving Sobriety
To see descriptions, please visit this page.

CITC values are interdependence, resilience, accountability, and respectfulness. Their mission is to “Work in partnership with Our People to develop opportunities that fulfill Our endless potential.” Their Vision: We envision a future in which all Our People – especially Our youth, the stewards of our future – have access to vast opportunities, and have the ability, confidence, and courage to advance and achieve their goals, infused with an unshakeable belief in Our endless potential.

One Hand Reach

They run the Junior Native Youth Olympics (JNYO), which happens in February for children in grades 1-6. They also run the Native Youth Olympics (NYO), which is going to be held from April 27-29th in Anchorage. Here is the site for the NYO games. I am excited for this because I am volunteering during the games this year and it’s my first year going to the games.

















Evaluation:
WOW! That was a lot of information. Anything to do with govenment doesn't really hold my interest. However, it was an ok read for me. I like looking up my own city government. If it hadn't been for this class I would never have looked at any of it. I have been pretty involved with some things run through the CITC. It's been very interesting.

Reviews:
Tina did a nice job of describing the land-lease ALSIB project.

Brad did a nice job providing a variety of pictures and information in his blog.

Heather has a very visually appealing blog. This is the first time I've visited her page and am very impressed. She also has a lot of good information and links.