Deputy Interior Secretary Michael Connor signs final Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act entitlement for Nunamiut Corporation

ANCHORAGE – Deputy Interior Secretary Michael Connor today signed the final patent for the transfer of 10,170 acres of land to the Nunamiut Corporation, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporation for the village of Anaktuvuk Pass.  The patent fulfils the corporation’s final land entitlement under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.  Additional acreage was also transferred to the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation at the signing ceremony as part of a three-way land exchange.

“This is a historic milestone for Anaktuvuk Pass as well as for the federal family and Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, whose cooperation was critically important in achieving this outcome,” Connor said.  “This also reflects President Obama’s ongoing commitment to help Alaska Native leaders build strong, resilient communities and expedite the remaining land conveyances to Alaska Native corporations.”

With this final transfer and patent, the Nunamiut Corporation will have received 92,160 acres under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.   

The village of Anaktuvuk Pass is located entirely within Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.  Land conveyed today finalizes a land exchange involving the village corporation, the National Park Service, and the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation that will allow continued subsistence activities and access by local residents while protecting public use and conservation of certain lands.

Nearly 44 million acres, or 96%, of the 45.7 million acres of Native land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act have been conveyed to Alaska Native corporations over the past 40 years. All but 10 million acres of those conveyances have received final patent. Most of the remaining lands have been surveyed but need survey plats and final patent confirmation. Final entitlement has been met for 99 villages with 135 remaining requiring closure.