Alexander Creek Village Recognition

Summary#

This bill would add a section to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to recognize Alexander Creek, Incorporated, as a Village Corporation and to recognize Alexander Creek village as a Native village. The bill directs Alexander Creek, Incorporated, to convert its State corporate charter from a Group Corporation to a Village Corporation and to submit any needed governing document changes to the Secretary. The Secretary must offer to negotiate with Alexander Creek, Incorporated, within 30 days to fairly and equitably settle the community’s aboriginal land claims and any other claims against the United States. Alexander Creek must enter into that settlement agreement within 13 months of the bill’s enactment. The agreement should aim for parity in value with similar agreements for other Village Corporations and may include transfers of surplus federal property coordinated with the General Services Administration. The bill also requires Alexander Creek to notify its members that they will stop receiving at-large benefits from the Regional Corporation and that future resource payments from the Region will be retained by Alexander Creek, Incorporated. The Region is not liable for damages related to the cessation of those at-large payments. The bill states it does not change land conveyance entitlements or agreements between the Region, other Village Corporations, the Federal Government, or the State, and it does not reduce land already conveyed to Alexander Creek as a Group Corporation before enactment.

What it means for you#

• If you are a member of Alexander Creek village: the entity representing your community would become a Village Corporation. You would be notified that you will no longer receive at-large payments from the Cook Inlet Region, Incorporated, and that future resource payments from the Region will go to Alexander Creek, Incorporated. Alexander Creek must complete charter changes and reach a settlement agreement within the timelines set by the bill.
• If you are part of the Region or another Alaska Native corporation: the bill recognizes a change in status for Alexander Creek and clarifies that existing land conveyances and entitlements for others are not changed by this bill.
• If you are a federal property official: the Secretary must coordinate with GSA about surplus property transfers that may be included in a settlement with Alexander Creek.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill directs recognition of Alexander Creek, Incorporated, as a Village Corporation and aims to settle the community’s aboriginal land claims and other claims against the United States "fairly and equitably." It requires negotiations to begin quickly, a settlement agreement within 13 months, and seeks parity in approximate value with settlements for other Village Corporations. The bill also enables coordination for surplus federal property transfers and clarifies how future resource payments and shareholder benefits for Alexander Creek members will be handled.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.