Shares were issued to eligible Alaska Natives, often without clear explanation of corporate rights or limitations.
Shares in regional and village corporations were distributed to enrolled Alaska Natives. While ownership was established, comprehensive shareholder education about voting rights, corporate governance, and long-term implications was uneven or absent. Many shareholders understood the settlement primarily through land and cash expectations rather than corporate mechanics.
Persistent confusion about shareholder rights, board authority, and corporate structure can be traced to education gaps at inception, not disengagement or apathy.