Federal and state governments sought legal certainty over Alaska land to enable large-scale resource development.
Following statehood, Alaska became central to federal and private interest in oil, gas, and mineral development. However, unresolved Aboriginal land claims created legal risk for investors and government agencies alike. Without clear title, major development projects faced potential legal challenges. This uncertainty increasingly became viewed as an obstacle to economic growth rather than a rights issue requiring resolution on its own terms.
The prioritization of land certainty for development explains why ANCSA was structured around extinguishment and finality. Understanding this pressure clarifies why economic efficiency often outweighed Indigenous governance considerations in the settlement’s design.