Land exchange for Alaska Native veterans
Gov. Mike Dunleavy said he sees this as an opportunity to right a wrong the federal government should have addressed long ago
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May 10, 2021
Village of Wrangell, ca. 1897, one of the five landless communities in Southeast Alaska whose Native residents were excluded from full participation in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Ironically, Wrangell was the hometown of William Paul, Sr., the pioneering Tlingit civil rights leader who is considered one of the fathers of the Native land claims movement. (Photo courtesy of the University of Washington Libraries)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy said he sees this as an opportunity to right a wrong the federal government should have addressed long ago
KINY George Bennett, right, giving a coin to Governor Dunleavy, left, during the live-streamed video on Wednesday. Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announced on Wednesday that he is putting forth an amendment to his proposed legislation that allows for Alaska Native Vietnam War veterans to have a chance at land allotments once promised to them by the government. For decades the Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans land allotment was left unresolved. At long last, the federal government did the right thing in 2019 by giving Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans who were fighting for their country during the original application period a second chance to apply for a land allotment, said Governor Dunleavy in a press release. Unfortunately, at the same time, the federal government limited these vets for selecting allotments from small areas hundreds of miles from their homes.
Becky Bohrer
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a news conference on a proposed land exchange for Alaska Native Vietnam War veterans on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. The proposal comes during what is expected to be the final weeks of the regular legislative session. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer) May 05, 2021 - 7:08 PM
JUNEAU, Alaska - Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday proposed letting Alaska Native Vietnam War veterans exchange promised federal land allotments that many say are not available in their cultural regions for state lands.
Details would need to be worked out through the legislative process, with lawmakers eyeing adjournment in about two weeks. Several legislators attended Wednesday s announcement, along with Alaska Native veterans.
JUNEAU â Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday proposed letting Alaska Native Vietnam War veterans exchange promised federal land allotments that many say are not available in their cultural regions for state lands.
Details would need to be worked out through the legislative process, with lawmakers eyeing adjournment in about two weeks. Several legislators attended Wednesday s announcement, along with Alaska Native veterans.
Dunleavy said he sees this as an opportunity to right a wrong the federal government should have addressed long ago. We re going to help them get land as close as possible to where they grew up or where they hunted or where they berry picked, especially where they want their families to take part, he said.