The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Part 1
Derenty Tabios, Jim LaBelle, and Larry Evanoff speak about the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, the attempts to regulate hunting and fishing in Native communities within Alaska, the social and political mobilization that took place within Native communities. Jim LaBelle discusses the Rampart Dam project and how the extreme threat of these proposals helped mobilize political movements within Alaska, including protests of the Rampart Dam. Project Chariot also proposed testing thermal nuclear weapons in Alaska to create deep water ports near Point Hope, which generated protests and additional political action. They specifically address the intentional exclusion of Native input and collaboration in these proposals. Jim LaBelle also describes the Barrow Duck-in of 1962. When a Native hunter was arrested in violation of a treaty that the Native community did not consent to, 138 hunters engaged in civil disobedience to protest the treaty and revoke the requirement. The whole west coast of Alaska was also prepared to join in the civil disobedience. Ultimately the government conceded and turned a blind eye to the hunters. "Hunger Knows No Laws" was a popular chant. Jim LaBelle also details how the statehood act further precipated political action among Alaska Native communities because it gave no special exemptions to Alaska Native communities in fishing and hunting regulations. They talk about the creation of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), the land freeze, and the creation of corporations and specific challenges for Chenega.They also describe the creation of Chugachmiut as a non-profit arm of Chugach Alaska Corporation and the conflicts between Native corporations and environmental organizations within the selection of lands.
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