Native report review: study annually details the economic importance of Alaska Native corporations.

• Author: Campbell, Melissa
• Position: Alaska Native Business News

Alaska Native corporations have a huge impact on the state's economy. It is a fact that many have known for years, but one that has only recently been thoroughly proven in studies headed by a modest, soft-spoken historian by the name of Alexandra J. McClanahan.

McClanahan didn't come by this information on her own. The study, now moving into its third year, is funded by the Association of ANCSA (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) Regional Corporation Presidents and CEOs. McClanahan, analyst Julee Duhrsen, and information gatherers Johanna Harper and Amanda Rothbarth, work to put together revenue and employment information about the 12 Alaska-based regional corporations and several of the top-grossing village corporations. (The 13th Regional Corp. is not included because it is based Outside and has little, if any, economic impact on Alaska.) Internist Hallie Bissett worked on the previous two years' studies.

The numbers are astounding. A few from the latest reviewing, released earlier this year on 2000 information: Revenues of $2.5 billion; $3.4 billion in assets; $9.6 million donated to charity; and statewide employment rolls of more than 10,000.

"The regional corporate leadership was finding that the idea or the public's perception wasn't clear on the importance of Native corporations to the state's economy," McClanahan said. "There has been a huge benefit for all Alaskans. That is a story that hasn't been told in the past."

So McClanahan, the resident historian at Cook Inlet Region Inc., and a small staff began work to clarify for all Alaskans--both Native and non-just how the "great experiment" had evolved over the course of 30 years.

THE GREAT EXPERIMENT

It began in 1971. Oil had been discovered in Alaska. But before production of this valuable natural resource could be tapped, the lands claim battle between its aboriginal residents, and the state and federal governments, had to be settled.

Foregoing the traditional--and previously unsuccessful--reservation system, the parties agreed to what came to be called the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, where Natives extinguished their aboriginal claims. In return, the act provided $962.5 million and 44 million acres of land.

Regional and village corporations were established to oversee land selections and the use of the money. Those with one-fourth or more Alaska Indian, Eskimo or Aleut blood who were living when the bill was enacted could enroll in one of 12 Alaska-based regional...