ANSCA at 40 Panel Meeting at UAA

A panel discussion at the University of Alaska Anchorage Friday night will be the culmination of a series of talks that were organized by the ANCSA at 40 committee. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act is approaching four decades in existence and tonight’s panel will feature Congressman Don Young, former Arctic Slope Regional Corporation official Oliver Leavett and Chugach Alaska leader Sherry Buretta. Nellie Moore is moderating the discussion. She says the goal is to create a historical record.

“While these people are still around for the future generations, so this will all be kept at UAA, at the university and it will be made available to the public,” Moore said.

Moore says the panels have examined what was happening in the lead up to the passage of ANCSA and to document the challenges and successes the Native corporations have had through the years so future Alaska Native leaders have the facts.

““We’re looking primarily at those emerging leaders, young people, trying to show that ANCSA is a living document and that knowledge of ANCSA is a big tool in helping young people look at some of the career choices and leadership choices that they’ll make in the future,” Moore said.

The programs will be made available through cable channel 360 North and online in November as part of Native American Awareness month. They will also be archived at UAA. A large event is being planned for the actual 40th anniversary of ANCSA on December 18th.

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Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.

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