The purpose of the Claims Act is to settle equitably the aboriginal claims made by Alaska Natives through a combination grant of land and money. Twelve Regional and 220 Village Corporations have been organized to represent Natives in geographic areas and to manage the property and funds received from the federal government.[1]
The purpose of the Claims Act is to settle equitably the aboriginal claims made by Alaska Natives through a combination grant of land and money. Twelve Regional and 220 Village Corporations have been organized to represent Natives in geographic areas and to manage the property and funds received from the federal government.[1]Sections 12 and 14 of the Claims Act, 43 U.S.C.A. §§ 1611, 1613 (West Supp.1978),[2] patent to the Village Corporations the surface estate in a total of 22 million acres, with the subsurface estate patented to the Regional Corporations.[3] The Regional Corporations also receive both the surface and subsurface estates in an additional 16 million acres.[4]Section 7(i) of ANCSA, 43 U.S.C.A. § 1606(i) (West Supp.1978),[5] provides that 70% Of all revenues received by each Regional Corporation from timber and subsurface estate resources must be divided among all 12 Regional Corporations in proportion to the number of Natives enrolled in each region. At least 50% Of the revenues so received must be redistributed among the Village Corporations. ANCSA § 7(j).
Defines where disputes must be litigated (state vs. federal), which affects cost, leverage, and practical enforceability for shareholders.